Prædikeren 10
1 Døde Fluer bringe Salvekogerens Salve til at stinke og gære; saaledes kan en liden Daarskab veje mere end Visdom og Ære.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 Den vises Hjerte er ved hans højre Side; men Daarens Hjerte er ved hans venstre Side.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Ogsaa naar Daaren vandrer paa Vejen, fattes han Forstand, og han siger om enhver, at han er en Daare.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 Dersom Herskerens Vrede rejser sig imod dig, da forlad ikke din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed standser store Synder.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.
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, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Daarskaben er sat paa de store Højder, men de rige sidde lavt.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 Jeg saa Tjenere paa Heste og Fyrster gaa til Fods som Tjenere, paa Jorden.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 Den som graver en Grav, skal falde i den; og den som nedriver et Gærde, ham skal en Slange bide.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Hvo som bryder Stene op, skal faa Smerte af dem; hvo som kløver Træ, skal komme i Fare derved.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
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 axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 Dersom Slangen bider, gavner Besværgelse intet, og Tungens Ejermand har ingen Fordel.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12 Ordene af den vises Mund ere yndige; men Daarens Læber opsluge ham selv.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 Hans Munds Ords Begyndelse er Daarskab; og det sidste af hans Mund er fordærvelig Galskab.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
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.
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Daarens Arbejde gør ham træt, efterdi han ikke kender Vej til By.
The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 Ve dig, du Land! hvis Konge er et Barn, og hvis Fyrster æde om Morgenen.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat 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.
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Ved Ladhed synke Bjælkerne, og ved Hændernes Slaphed drypper det ned i Huset.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 Man gør Maaltid for at le, og Vinen glæder de levende, og Penge gøre alting ud.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
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.
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
