< Prædikeren 10 >

1 Døde Fluer bringe Salvekogerens Salve til at stinke og gære; saaledes kan en liden Daarskab veje mere end Visdom og Ære.
Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 Den vises Hjerte er ved hans højre Side; men Daarens Hjerte er ved hans venstre Side.
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
3 Ogsaa naar Daaren vandrer paa Vejen, fattes han Forstand, og han siger om enhver, at han er en Daare.
Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
4 Dersom Herskerens Vrede rejser sig imod dig, da forlad ikke din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed standser store Synder.
If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
5 Der er et Onde, som jeg saa under Solen, ret som det var en Fejl, der udgaar fra Herskerens Ansigt:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 Daarskaben er sat paa de store Højder, men de rige sidde lavt.
a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 Jeg saa Tjenere paa Heste og Fyrster gaa til Fods som Tjenere, paa Jorden.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 Den som graver en Grav, skal falde i den; og den som nedriver et Gærde, ham skal en Slange bide.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 Hvo som bryder Stene op, skal faa Smerte af dem; hvo som kløver Træ, skal komme i Fare derved.
Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 Naar Jernet bliver sløvt, og man ikke skærper Æggen, da maa man siden anstrenge Kræfterne; men Visdom er nyttig til at gøre en Ting rettelig.
If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
11 Dersom Slangen bider, gavner Besværgelse intet, og Tungens Ejermand har ingen Fordel.
Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 Ordene af den vises Mund ere yndige; men Daarens Læber opsluge ham selv.
Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
13 Hans Munds Ords Begyndelse er Daarskab; og det sidste af hans Mund er fordærvelig Galskab.
At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 Og en Daare gør mange Ord; Mennesket kan ikke vide, hvad der skal ske; og hvo kan forkynde ham, hvad der skal ske efter ham.
The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
15 Daarens Arbejde gør ham træt, efterdi han ikke kender Vej til By.
The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Ve dig, du Land! hvis Konge er et Barn, og hvis Fyrster æde om Morgenen.
Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 Lykkeligt er du, Land! hvis Konge er født af de ypperste, og hvis Fyrster æde i rette Tid til Styrke og ikke til Drukkenskab.
Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
18 Ved Ladhed synke Bjælkerne, og ved Hændernes Slaphed drypper det ned i Huset.
By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 Man gør Maaltid for at le, og Vinen glæder de levende, og Penge gøre alting ud.
While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 Band ikke Kongen, end ikke i din Tanke, og band ikke en rig i dit inderste Sengekammer; thi en Fugl under Himmelen kan føre Røsten frem, og den bevingede bringer Ordet ud.
You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.

< Prædikeren 10 >