Ordsprogene 24
1 Vær ikke misundelig paa onde Mennesker, og hav ikke Lyst til at være hos dem!
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
2 Thi deres Hjerte grunder paa Ødelæggelse, og deres Læber udtale, hvad der er til Fortræd.
For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 Ved Visdom bygges et Hus, og ved Forstand befæstes det;
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 og ved Kundskab blive Kamrene fulde af alt dyrebart og yndigt Gods.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
5 En viis Mand er stærk, og en kyndig Mand styrker sin Kraft.
A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
6 Thi efter Vejledning skal du føre din Krig, og hvor mange Raadgivere ere, der er Frelse.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
7 Visdommen er for høj for en Daare, for Retten skal han ikke oplade sin Mund.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
8 Hvo som tænker paa at gøre ondt, ham kalder man en skalkagtig Mand.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 Daarskabs Anslag er Synd, og en Spotter er en Vederstyggelighed iblandt Folk.
The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 Du viste Svaghed paa Nødens Dag; din Kraft var ringe.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Red dem, som føres til Døden, dem, som vaklende drage hen at miste Livet; maatte du dog holde dem tilbage!
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
12 Naar du siger: „Se, vi kende det ikke”, mon da ikke den, som prøver Hjerter, forstaar det, og den, som tager Vare paa din Sjæl, kender det, saa at han betaler et Menneske efter dets Gerning?
If thou shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.
13 Æd Honning, min Søn! thi den er god, og Honningkage er sød for din Gane;
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
14 lær saaledes Visdom for din Sjæl; naar du finder den, og der er en Eftertid, skal din Forhaabning ikke tilintetgøres.
So obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a [happy] future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Lur ikke, du ugudelige! paa den retfærdiges Bolig; ødelæg ikke hans Hjem!
Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
16 Thi en retfærdig kan falde syv Gange og staa op igen; men de ugudelige skulle styrte i Ulykken.
For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 Glæd dig ikke, naar din Fjende falder, og lad dit Hjerte ikke fryde sig, naar han snubler;
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 at ikke Herren skal se det, og det maatte være ondt i hans Øjne, og han skal vende sin Vrede fra ham til dig.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Lad ikke din Vrede optændes imod de onde; vær ikke misundelig paa de ugudelige!
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 Thi den onde skal ingen Eftertid have; de ugudeliges Lampe skal udslukkes.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 Min Søn! frygt Herren og Kongen; bland dig ikke iblandt dem, der hige efter Forandringer!
My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
22 Thi Ulykke fra dem kommer hastelig, og Fordærvelse fra dem begge — hvo kender den?
For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
23 Ogsaa dette er af de vise: At anse Personer i Dommen er ikke godt.
These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 Hvo som siger til den skyldige: Du er retfærdig, ham skulle Folkeslægter forbande; Folkefærd skulle vredes paa ham.
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 Men dem, som straffe ham, skal det gaa vel, og der skal komme en god Velsignelse over dem.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 Kys paa Læber giver den, som svarer med rette Ord.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Beskik din Gerning derude, og gør den færdig for dig paa Ageren; byg saa siden dit Hus!
Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
28 Bliv ikke letsindigt Vidne imod din Næste; og du skulde besvige med dine Læber?
Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
29 Sig ikke: Ligesom han gjorde mig, saa vil jeg gøre ham; jeg vil betale enhver efter hans Gerning.
Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 Jeg gik over en lad Mands Ager og over et uforstandigt Menneskes Vingaard,
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
31 og se, den var aldeles løbet op i Tidsler, dens Overflade var skjult med Nælder, og Stengærdet derom var nedbrudt.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Der jeg saa det, lagde jeg mig det paa Hjerte; jeg saa til, jeg annammede en Lærdom:
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 At sove lidt, at slumre lidt, at folde Hænderne lidt for at ligge —,
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 saa skal din Armod komme som en Vandringsmand og din Mangel som skjoldvæbnet Mand.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
