Ordsprogene 17
1 Bedre er en tør Bid og Ro derhos end et Hus fuldt af slagtet Kvæg med Trætte.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 En klog Tjener skal herske over en Søn, som gør Skam, og han skal dele Arv midt iblandt Brødre.
An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
3 Diglen er til Sølvet og Ovnen til Guldet; men den, som prøver Hjerterne, er Herren.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
4 Den onde agter paa uretfærdige Læber; Løgneren laaner Øre til den Tunge, der arbejder paa Fordærvelse.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 Hvo som bespotter den fattige, forhaaner hans Skaber; hvo som glæder sig over Ulykke, skal ikke agtes uskyldig.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 Børnebørn ere de gamles Krone, og Børnenes Pryd er deres Fædre.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Det staar ikke en Daare vel an at tale høje Ord, meget mindre en Fyrste at tale Løgn.
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 Skænk er en yndig Sten i deres Øjne, som modtage den; hvor som helst den vender sig hen, gør den Lykke.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Hvo som skjuler Overtrædelse, søger Kærlighed; men hvo som ripper op i en Sag, fjerner en fortrolig.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
10 Skænd trænger dybere ind hos en forstandig end at slaa en Daare hundrede Gange.
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Den onde søger kun at vise Genstridighed, men et grusomt Bud skal sendes imod ham.
Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
12 Lad en Mand møde en Bjørn, som Ungerne ere fratagne, kun ikke en Daare i hans Taabelighed.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 Hvo som gengiver godt med ondt, fra hans Hus skal det onde ikke vige.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Hvo som begynder Trætte, aabner for Vand; opgiv derfor Trætten, førend den vælter sig frem.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 Den, som frikender den ugudelige, og den, som kender den retfærdige skyldig, ere begge Herren en Vederstyggelighed.
He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
16 Hvortil skal dog Penge i Daarens Haand? er det for at købe Visdom, da han dog ikke har Forstand?
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 En Ven elsker altid, men en Broder fødes til Hjælp i Nød.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
18 Et Menneske, som fattes Forstand, giver Haandslag og gaar i Borgen hos sin Næste.
A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 Hvo der elsker Trætte, elsker Overtrædelse; hvo som søger Undergang, gør sin Dør høj.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
20 Den, som er vanartig i Hjertet, skal ikke finde godt; og den, som taler forvendt med sin Tunge, skal falde i Ulykke.
He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
21 Den, som avler en Daare, ham bliver det til Bedrøvelse, og en Daares Fader skal ikke glæde sig.
He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
22 Et glad Hjerte er en god Lægedom; men et nedslaaet Mod udtørrer Benene.
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Den ugudelige tager Gave i Smug for at bøje Rettens Stier.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
24 For den forstandiges Ansigt er Visdommen; men en Daares Øjne ere ved Jordens Ende.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
25 En daarlig Søn er sin Fader en Harm og sin Moder en Bedrøvelse.
A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 Det er end ikke godt at lægge Bøder paa den retfærdige eller at slaa ædle Mænd tvært imod Ret.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 Den, som sparer sine Ord, besidder Kundskab, og en koldsindig Mand er forstandig.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Ogsaa en Daare, om han tav, kunde regnes for viis; den, som holder sine Læber til, er forstandig.
Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
