Ordsprogene 8
1 Mon ikke Visdommen raaber, og Forstanden opløfter sin Røst?
Does not wisdom call out, and prudence bestow her voice?
2 Paa Toppen af Højene ved Vejen, midt paa Stierne staar den;
At the summits and the tops of exalted places, standing above the ways, in the midst of the paths,
3 ved Siden af Portene, ved Udgangen af Staden, ved Indgangen til Portene raaber den:
beside the gates of the city, at the very doors, she speaks, saying:
4 Til eder, I Mænd, vil jeg raabe, og min Røst lyde til Menneskens Børn.
“O men, to you I call out, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 I uvidende! fatter Vid; og I Daarer! fatter Forstand.
O little ones, understand discernment. And you who are unwise, turn your souls.
6 Hører, thi jeg vil tale fyrstelige Ting og aabne mine Læber med Retvished.
Listen, for I will speak about great things, and my lips will be opened, so as to foretell what is right.
7 Thi min Gane taler Sandhed, og Ugudelighed er en Vederstyggelighed for mine Læber.
My throat shall practice truth, and my lips shall detest the impious.
8 I Retfærdighed ere alle min Munds Ord; der er intet fordrejet eller forvendt i dem.
All my words are just. There is no depravity in them, and no perversity.
9 De ere alle rette for den forstandige og ligefremme for dem, som finde Kundskab.
They are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledge.
10 Tager imod min Undervisning og ikke imod Sølv og imod Kundskab fremfor udsøgt Guld.
Accept my discipline, and not money. Choose the doctrine that is greater than gold.
11 Thi Visdom er bedre end Perler, og alle de Ting, man har Lyst til, kunne ikke lignes ved den.
For wisdom is better than all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to her.
12 Jeg, Visdommen, jeg har taget Bolig i Vidskab og besidder Kundskab om kløgtige Raad.
I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside learned thoughts.
13 Herrens Frygt er at hade ondt; Hoffærdighed og Hovmodighed og Ondskabs Vej og den Mund, som taler forvendte Ting, hader jeg.
The fear of the Lord hates evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14 Raad og hvad der har Bestand, hører mig til; jeg er Forstand, mig hører Styrke til.
Counsel is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. Strength is mine.
15 Ved mig regere Konger, og ved mig beskikke Fyrster Ret.
Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.
16 Ved mig herske Herskere og Høvdinger, alle Dommere paa Jorden.
Through me, princes rule and the powerful decree justice.
17 Jeg elsker dem, som elske mig, og de, som søge mig, skulle finde mig.
I love those who love me. And those who stand watch for me until morning shall discover me.
18 Rigdom og Ære er hos mig, varigt Gods og Retfærdighed.
With me, are wealth and glory, superb riches and justice.
19 Min Frugt er bedre end Guld og ædelt Malm, og at vinde mig er bedre end udsøgt Sølv.
For my fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my progeny better than choice silver.
20 Jeg vandrer paa Retfærdigheds Vej, midt paa Rettens Stier,
I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 til at lade dem, som elske mig, arve varigt godt og til at fylde deres Forraadskamre.
so that I may enrich those who love me, and thus complete their treasures.
22 Herren ejede mig som sin Vejs Begyndelse, forud for sine Gerninger, fra fordums Tid.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning.
23 Fra Evighed er jeg indsat, fra det første af, før Jorden var.
I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed.
24 Da Afgrundene endnu ikke vare, er jeg født, da Kilderne, som have meget Vand, ikke vare til.
The abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters yet erupted.
25 Før Bjergene bleve nedsænkede, før Højene bleve til, er jeg født.
The mountains, with their great mass, had not yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forth.
26 Han havde endnu ikke skabt Jorden eller Markerne eller det første af Jordens Støv.
Still he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe of the earth.
27 Der han beredte Himlene, da var jeg der, der han slog en Kreds oven over Afgrunden;
I was already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abyss;
28 der han befæstede Skyerne heroventil, der Afgrundens Kilder fik deres faste Sted;
when he made firm the sky above, and set free the fountains of waters;
29 der han satte Havet dets Grænse, at Vandene ikke skulde overtræde hans Befaling, der han lagde Jordens Grundvold:
when he encompassed the sea within its limits, and laid down a law for the waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed the foundations of the earth.
30 Da var jeg hos ham som Kunstnerinde, og jeg var hans Lyst Dag for Dag, og jeg legede for hans Ansigt alle Tider;
I was with him in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight at all times,
31 jeg legede i Verden paa hans Jord, og min Lyst var hos Menneskens Børn.
playing in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.
32 Og nu, Børn, hører mig! og salige ere de, som tage Vare paa mine Veje.
Therefore, sons, hear me now. Blessed are those who preserve my ways.
33 Hører Undervisning og bliver vise, og lader den ikke fare!
Listen to discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it aside.
34 Saligt er det Menneske, som hører mig, saa at han dagligt vaager ved mine Døre og tager Vare paa mine Dørstolper.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates every day, and who observes at the posts of my doors.
35 Thi hvo mig finder, han finder Livet og faar Velbehag hos Herren.
He who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the Lord.
36 Men hvo, som synder imod mig, skader sin Sjæl; alle, som mig hade, elske Døden.
But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.”
