Ordsprogene 4
1 Hører, I Sønner! en Faders Undervisning og giver Agt for at faa Forstand;
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 thi jeg har givet eder en god Lærdom; forlader ikke min Lov!
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Thi jeg var min Faders Søn, min Moders ømme og eneste Barn.
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 Og han lærte mig og sagde til mig: Lad dit Hjerte holde fast ved mit Ord, bevar mine Bud, saa skal du leve.
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 Køb Visdom, køb Forstand, glem ikke og vig ikke fra min Munds Ord.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Forlad den ikke, saa skal den bevare dig, elsk den, saa skal den bevogte dig.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Visdommens Begyndelse er: Køb Visdom, og for al din Ejendom køb Forstand!
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Ophøj den, saa skal den ophøje dig, naar du tager den i Favn, saa skal den ære dig.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Den skal sætte en yndig Krans paa dit Hoved, den skal give dig en dejlig Krone.
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Hør, min Søn! og tag imod mine Ord, saa skulle dine Leveaar blive mange.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Jeg underviser dig om Visdoms Vej, jeg leder dig paa jævne Stier.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 Naar du gaar, skal din Gang ikke blive trang, og naar du løber, skal du ikke støde dig.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Hold fast ved Undervisning, lad den ikke fare, bevar den; thi den er dit Liv.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Kom ikke paa de ugudeliges Sti, og gak ikke frem paa de ondes Vej!
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Lad den ligge, gak ikke frem paa den, vig fra den og gak forbi!
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Thi de sove ikke, naar de ikke have gjort ilde; og deres Søvn flyr fra dem, naar de ikke have bragt nogen til Fald.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 Thi de æde Ugudeligheds Brød og drikke Uretfærdigheds Vin.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Og de retfærdiges Sti er som et skinnende Lys, der bliver klarere og klarere indtil Middag.
The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 De ugudeliges Vej er som Mørket, de vide ikke, hvorpaa de skulle støde sig.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 Min Søn! giv Agt paa mine Ord, bøj dit Øre til min Tale.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Lad dem ikke vige fra dine Øjne, bevar dem i dit Hjerte!
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 Thi de ere Liv for hver den, som finder dem, og Lægedom for hans hele Legeme.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Bevar dit Hjerte fremfor alt det, der forvares; thi fra det udgaar Livet.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Hold dig fri for Munds Vanartighed, og lad Læbers Forvendthed være langt fra dig!
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Lad dine Øjne se ligefrem, og lad dine Øjenlaage være ret frem for dig!
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Overvej vel din Fods Sti, og alle dine Veje skulle faa Fasthed.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Bøj ikke af til højre eller venstre, vend din Fod fra det onde!
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
