< Ordsprogene 20 >
1 Vin er en Spotter, stærk Drik en Larmer, og hver som raver deraf, bliver ikke viis.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 Den Forfærdelse, en Konge vækker, er som en ung Løves Brølen; den, som fortørner ham, synder imod sit Liv.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 Det er en Ære for en Mand at blive fra Trætte, men hver Daare vælter sig ind i den.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 Fordi det er Vinter, vil den lade ikke pløje; om Høsten vil han søge, og der er intet.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 Raad i en Mands Hjerte er dybt Vand, men en forstandig Mand drager det op.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Mange Mennesker udraabe hver sin Kærlighed; men hvo finder en trofast Mand?
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Den, som vandrer frem i sin Oprigtighed, er retfærdig; lyksalige ere hans Børn efter ham.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 En Konge, som sidder paa Domstolen, udskiller alle onde med sine Øjne.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Hvo kan sige: Jeg har renset mit Hjerte; jeg er ren for min Synd?
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 To Slags Vægt og to Slags Efa, de ere begge en Vederstyggelighed for Herren.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Ogsaa af sine Gerninger kendes den unge, om han er ren, og om hans Gerning er ret.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 Et Øre, som hører, og et Øje, som ser, ogsaa dem begge har Herren gjort.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Elsk ikke Søvn, at du ikke skal blive fattig; slaa dine Øjne op, saa skal du mættes af Brød.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 Det er slet! det er slet! siger Køberen; men naar han gaar bort, da roser han sig.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 Der er Guld og mange Perler til; men Kundskabs Læber ere et dyrebart Kar.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Naar en gaar i Borgen for en fremmed, saa tag hans Klæder; og tag Pant af ham, naar det er for den ubekendte.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Brød, tjent ved Bedrag, smager en Mand vel; men siden bliver hans Mund fuld af Grus.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Beslutninger efter Raadslagning bestaa; før da Krig efter fornuftig Ledelse!
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 Den, der gaar om som en Bagvadsker, aabenbarer Hemmeligheder; og indlad dig ikke med den, som er aabenmundet.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Hvo som bander sin Fader eller sin Moder, hans Lampe skal udslukkes midt i Mørket.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 Den Arv, som man i Førstningen higer efter, den skal ikke velsignes paa det sidste.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Sig ikke: Jeg vil betale ondt; bi efter Herren, og han skal frelse dig.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 To Slags Vægt er en Vederstyggelighed for Herren, og falske Vægtskaaler ere ikke gode.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 En Mands Gang er at Herren, og hvad forstaar et Menneske sig paa sin Vej?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 Det er Mennesket en Snare ubesindigt at sige: „Helligt!” og først efter Løfterne betænke det.
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 En viis Konge udskiller de ugudelige og lader Hjulet gaa over dem.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 Menneskens Aand er en Lampe fra Herren; den ransager alle Lønkamre i hans Indre.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Miskundhed og Sandhed bevare en Konge, og han støtter sin Trone ved Miskundhed.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 En Pryd for de unge er deres Kraft, og et Smykke for de gamle ere de graa Haar.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 En Salvelse for den onde ere Striber af Saar og Slag, der trænge dybt ind i hans Krop.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.