Ordsprogene 8
1 Mon ikke Visdommen raaber, og Forstanden opløfter sin Røst?
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 Paa Toppen af Højene ved Vejen, midt paa Stierne staar den;
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 ved Siden af Portene, ved Udgangen af Staden, ved Indgangen til Portene raaber den:
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 Til eder, I Mænd, vil jeg raabe, og min Røst lyde til Menneskens Børn.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 I uvidende! fatter Vid; og I Daarer! fatter Forstand.
Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hører, thi jeg vil tale fyrstelige Ting og aabne mine Læber med Retvished.
Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 Thi min Gane taler Sandhed, og Ugudelighed er en Vederstyggelighed for mine Læber.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 I Retfærdighed ere alle min Munds Ord; der er intet fordrejet eller forvendt i dem.
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 De ere alle rette for den forstandige og ligefremme for dem, som finde Kundskab.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Tager imod min Undervisning og ikke imod Sølv og imod Kundskab fremfor udsøgt Guld.
Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice 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 pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 Jeg, Visdommen, jeg har taget Bolig i Vidskab og besidder Kundskab om kløgtige Raad.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
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 is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Raad og hvad der har Bestand, hører mig til; jeg er Forstand, mig hører Styrke til.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 Ved mig regere Konger, og ved mig beskikke Fyrster Ret.
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 Ved mig herske Herskere og Høvdinger, alle Dommere paa Jorden.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Jeg elsker dem, som elske mig, og de, som søge mig, skulle finde mig.
I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Rigdom og Ære er hos mig, varigt Gods og Retfærdighed.
Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 Min Frugt er bedre end Guld og ædelt Malm, og at vinde mig er bedre end udsøgt Sølv.
My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 Jeg vandrer paa Retfærdigheds Vej, midt paa Rettens Stier,
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
21 til at lade dem, som elske mig, arve varigt godt og til at fylde deres Forraadskamre.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 Herren ejede mig som sin Vejs Begyndelse, forud for sine Gerninger, fra fordums Tid.
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 Fra Evighed er jeg indsat, fra det første af, før Jorden var.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 Da Afgrundene endnu ikke vare, er jeg født, da Kilderne, som have meget Vand, ikke vare til.
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 Før Bjergene bleve nedsænkede, før Højene bleve til, er jeg født.
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 Han havde endnu ikke skabt Jorden eller Markerne eller det første af Jordens Støv.
While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
27 Der han beredte Himlene, da var jeg der, der han slog en Kreds oven over Afgrunden;
When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 der han befæstede Skyerne heroventil, der Afgrundens Kilder fik deres faste Sted;
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
29 der han satte Havet dets Grænse, at Vandene ikke skulde overtræde hans Befaling, der han lagde Jordens Grundvold:
When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly 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;
Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 jeg legede i Verden paa hans Jord, og min Lyst var hos Menneskens Børn.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 Og nu, Børn, hører mig! og salige ere de, som tage Vare paa mine Veje.
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 Hører Undervisning og bliver vise, og lader den ikke fare!
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 Saligt er det Menneske, som hører mig, saa at han dagligt vaager ved mine Døre og tager Vare paa mine Dørstolper.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Thi hvo mig finder, han finder Livet og faar Velbehag hos Herren.
For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 Men hvo, som synder imod mig, skader sin Sjæl; alle, som mig hade, elske Døden.
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
