Prædikeren 10
1 Døde Fluer gør Salveblanderens Olie stinkende, lidt Daarskab ødelægger Visdommens Værd.
Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 Den vise har sin Forstand til højre, Taaben har sin til venstre,
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
3 Hvor Daaren end færdes, svigter hans Forstand, og han røber for alle, at han er en Daare.
Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
4 Naar en Herskers Vrede rejser sig mod dig, forlad ikke derfor din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed hindrer store Synder.
If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
5 Der er et Onde, jeg saa under Solen; det ser ud som et Misgreb af ham, som har Magten:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 Daarskab sættes i Højsædet, nederst sidder de rige.
a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 Trælle saa jeg højt til Hest og Høvdinger til Fods som Trælle.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 Den, som graver en Grav, falder selv deri; den, som nedbryder en Mur, ham bider en Slange;
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 den, som bryder Sten, kan saare sig paa dem; den, som kløver Træ, er i Fare.
Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 Naar Øksen er sløv og dens Æg ej hvæsses, maa Kraft lægges i; men den dygtiges Fortrin er Visdom.
If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
11 Bider en Slange, før den besværges, har Besværgeren ingen Gavn af sin Kunst.
Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 Ord fra Vismands Mund vinder Yndest, en Daares Læber bringer ham Vaade;
Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
13 hans Tale begynder med Daarskab og ender med den værste Galskab.
At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 Taaben bruger mange Ord. Ej ved Mennesket, hvad der skal ske; hvad der efter hans Død skal ske, hvo siger ham det?
The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
15 Daarens Flid gør ham træt, thi end ikke til Bys ved han Vej.
The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Ve dig, du Land, hvis Konge er en Dreng og hvis Fyrster holder Gilde ved Gry.
Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 Held dig; du Land, hvis Konge er ædelbaaren, hvis Fyrster holder Gilde til sømmelig Tid som Mænd og ikke som Drankere.
Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
18 Ved Ladhed synker Bjælkelaget; naar Hænderne slappes, drypper det i Huset.
By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 Til Morskab holder man Gæstebud, og Vin gør de levende glade; men Penge skaffer alt til Veje.
While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 End ikke i din Tanke maa du bande en Konge, end ikke i dit Sovekammer en, som er rig; thi Himlens Fugle kan udsprede Ordet, de vingede røbe, hvad du siger.
You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
