Ordsprogene 17
1 Bedre en tør Bid Brød med fred end Huset fuldt af Sul med Trætte.
Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
2 Klog Træl bliver Herre over daarlig Søn og faar lod og del mellem Brødre.
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
3 Digel til Sølv og Ovn til Guld, men den, der prøver Hjerter, er HERREN.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
4 Den onde hører paa onde Læber, Løgneren lytter til giftige Tunger.
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
5 Hvo Fattigmand spotter, haaner hans Skaber, den skadefro slipper ikke for Straf.
Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
6 De gamles Krone er Børnebørn, Sønners Stolthed er Fædre.
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Ypperlig Tale er ej for en Daare, end mindre da Løgn for den, som er ædel.
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
8 Som en Troldsten er Gave i Giverens Øjne; hvorhen den end vender sig, gør den sin Virkning.
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
9 Den, der dølger en Synd, søger Venskab, men den, der ripper op i en Sag, skiller Venner.
He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
10 Bedre virker Skænd paa forstandig end hundrede Slag paa en Taabe.
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
11 Den onde har kun Genstridighed for, men et skaanselsløst Bud er udsendt imod ham.
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
12 Man kan møde en Bjørn, hvis Unger er taget, men ikke en Taabe udi hans Daarskab.
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
13 Den, der gengælder godt med ondt, fra hans Hus skal Vanheld ej vige.
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
14 At yppe Strid er at aabne for Vand, hold derfor inde, før Strid bryder løs.
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
15 At frikende skyldig og dømme uskyldig, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
16 Hvad hjælper Penge i Taabens Haand til at købe ham Visdom, naar Viddet mangler?
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
17 Ven viser Kærlighed naar som helst, Broder fødes til Hjælp i Nød.
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
18 Mand uden Vid giver Haandslag og gaar i Borgen for Næsten.
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
19 Ven af Kiv er Ven af Synd; at højne sin Dør er at attraa Fald.
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
20 Ej finder man Lykke, naar Hjertet er vrangt, man falder i Vaade, naar Tungen er falsk.
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
21 Den, der avler en Taabe, faar Sorg, Daarens Fader er ikke glad.
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
22 Glad Hjerte er godt for Legemet, nedslaaet Sind suger Marv af Benene.
A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
23 Den gudløse tager Gave i Løn for at bøje Rettens Gænge.
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
24 Visdom staar den forstandige for Øje, Taabens Blik er ved Jordens Ende.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 Taabelig Søn er sin Faders Sorg, Kvide for hende, som fødte ham.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
26 At straffe den, der har Ret, er ilde, værre endnu at slaa de ædle.
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
27 Den, som har Kundskab tøjler sin Tale, Mand med Forstand er koldblodig.
He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
28 Selv Daaren, der tier, gælder for viis, forstandig er den, der lukker sine Læber.
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
