Ordsprogene 17
1 Bedre en tør Bid Brød med fred end Huset fuldt af Sul med Trætte.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 Klog Træl bliver Herre over daarlig Søn og faar lod og del mellem Brødre.
An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
3 Digel til Sølv og Ovn til Guld, men den, der prøver Hjerter, er HERREN.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
4 Den onde hører paa onde Læber, Løgneren lytter til giftige Tunger.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 Hvo Fattigmand spotter, haaner hans Skaber, den skadefro slipper ikke for Straf.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 De gamles Krone er Børnebørn, Sønners Stolthed er Fædre.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Ypperlig Tale er ej for en Daare, end mindre da Løgn for den, som er ædel.
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 Som en Troldsten er Gave i Giverens Øjne; hvorhen den end vender sig, gør den sin Virkning.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Den, der dølger en Synd, søger Venskab, men den, der ripper op i en Sag, skiller Venner.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
10 Bedre virker Skænd paa forstandig end hundrede Slag paa en Taabe.
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Den onde har kun Genstridighed for, men et skaanselsløst Bud er udsendt imod ham.
Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
12 Man kan møde en Bjørn, hvis Unger er taget, men ikke en Taabe udi hans Daarskab.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 Den, der gengælder godt med ondt, fra hans Hus skal Vanheld ej vige.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
14 At yppe Strid er at aabne for Vand, hold derfor inde, før Strid bryder løs.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 At frikende skyldig og dømme uskyldig, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
16 Hvad hjælper Penge i Taabens Haand til at købe ham Visdom, naar Viddet mangler?
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Ven viser Kærlighed naar som helst, Broder fødes til Hjælp i Nød.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
18 Mand uden Vid giver Haandslag og gaar i Borgen for Næsten.
A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 Ven af Kiv er Ven af Synd; at højne sin Dør er at attraa Fald.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
20 Ej finder man Lykke, naar Hjertet er vrangt, man falder i Vaade, naar Tungen er falsk.
He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
21 Den, der avler en Taabe, faar Sorg, Daarens Fader er ikke glad.
He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
22 Glad Hjerte er godt for Legemet, nedslaaet Sind suger Marv af Benene.
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Den gudløse tager Gave i Løn for at bøje Rettens Gænge.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
24 Visdom staar den forstandige for Øje, Taabens Blik er ved Jordens Ende.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
25 Taabelig Søn er sin Faders Sorg, Kvide for hende, som fødte ham.
A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 At straffe den, der har Ret, er ilde, værre endnu at slaa de ædle.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 Den, som har Kundskab tøjler sin Tale, Mand med Forstand er koldblodig.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Selv Daaren, der tier, gælder for viis, forstandig er den, der lukker sine Læber.
Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
