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 know understanding;
2 thi jeg har givet eder en god Lærdom; forlader ikke min Lov!
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 Thi jeg var min Faders Søn, min Moders ømme og eneste Barn.
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
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 taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Køb Visdom, køb Forstand, glem ikke og vig ikke fra min Munds Ord.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Forlad den ikke, saa skal den bevare dig, elsk den, saa skal den bevogte dig.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Visdommens Begyndelse er: Køb Visdom, og for al din Ejendom køb Forstand!
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Ophøj den, saa skal den ophøje dig, naar du tager den i Favn, saa skal den ære dig.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
9 Den skal sætte en yndig Krans paa dit Hoved, den skal give dig en dejlig Krone.
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
10 Hør, min Søn! og tag imod mine Ord, saa skulle dine Leveaar blive mange.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Jeg underviser dig om Visdoms Vej, jeg leder dig paa jævne Stier.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Naar du gaar, skal din Gang ikke blive trang, og naar du løber, skal du ikke støde dig.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold fast ved Undervisning, lad den ikke fare, bevar den; thi den er dit Liv.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Kom ikke paa de ugudeliges Sti, og gak ikke frem paa de ondes Vej!
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Lad den ligge, gak ikke frem paa den, vig fra den og gak forbi!
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass 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.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
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.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 De ugudeliges Vej er som Mørket, de vide ikke, hvorpaa de skulle støde sig.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 Min Søn! giv Agt paa mine Ord, bøj dit Øre til min Tale.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Lad dem ikke vige fra dine Øjne, bevar dem i dit Hjerte!
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the centre of your heart.
22 Thi de ere Liv for hver den, som finder dem, og Lægedom for hans hele Legeme.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Bevar dit Hjerte fremfor alt det, der forvares; thi fra det udgaar Livet.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Hold dig fri for Munds Vanartighed, og lad Læbers Forvendthed være langt fra dig!
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Lad dine Øjne se ligefrem, og lad dine Øjenlaage være ret frem for dig!
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Overvej vel din Fods Sti, og alle dine Veje skulle faa Fasthed.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Bøj ikke af til højre eller venstre, vend din Fod fra det onde!
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
