Ordsprogene 17
1 Bedre en tør Bid Brød med fred end Huset fuldt af Sul med Trætte.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
2 Klog Træl bliver Herre over daarlig Søn og faar lod og del mellem Brødre.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 Digel til Sølv og Ovn til Guld, men den, der prøver Hjerter, er HERREN.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
4 Den onde hører paa onde Læber, Løgneren lytter til giftige Tunger.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Hvo Fattigmand spotter, haaner hans Skaber, den skadefro slipper ikke for Straf.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 De gamles Krone er Børnebørn, Sønners Stolthed er Fædre.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Ypperlig Tale er ej for en Daare, end mindre da Løgn for den, som er ædel.
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
8 Som en Troldsten er Gave i Giverens Øjne; hvorhen den end vender sig, gør den sin Virkning.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 Den, der dølger en Synd, søger Venskab, men den, der ripper op i en Sag, skiller Venner.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 Bedre virker Skænd paa forstandig end hundrede Slag paa en Taabe.
A reproof will penetrate deeper 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.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
12 Man kan møde en Bjørn, hvis Unger er taget, men ikke en Taabe udi hans Daarskab.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Den, der gengælder godt med ondt, fra hans Hus skal Vanheld ej vige.
Whoso returneth evil 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.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
15 At frikende skyldig og dømme uskyldig, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Hvad hjælper Penge i Taabens Haand til at købe ham Visdom, naar Viddet mangler?
Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get 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; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 Mand uden Vid giver Haandslag og gaar i Borgen for Næsten.
A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Ven af Kiv er Ven af Synd; at højne sin Dør er at attraa Fald.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 Ej finder man Lykke, naar Hjertet er vrangt, man falder i Vaade, naar Tungen er falsk.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 Den, der avler en Taabe, faar Sorg, Daarens Fader er ikke glad.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 Glad Hjerte er godt for Legemet, nedslaaet Sind suger Marv af Benene.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Den gudløse tager Gave i Løn for at bøje Rettens Gænge.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Visdom staar den forstandige for Øje, Taabens Blik er ved Jordens Ende.
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in 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 bitterness to her that bore him.
26 At straffe den, der har Ret, er ilde, værre endnu at slaa de ædle.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Den, som har Kundskab tøjler sin Tale, Mand med Forstand er koldblodig.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool 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 is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
