Ordsprogene 18
1 Særlingen søger et Paaskud, med Vold og Magt vil han Strid.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 Taaben ynder ej Indsigt, men kun, at hans Tanker kommer for Lyset.
A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
3 Hvor Gudløshed kommer, kommer og Spot, Skam og Skændsel følges.
With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
4 Ord i Mands Mund er dybe Vande, en rindende Bæk, en Visdomskilde.
Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 Det er ilde at give en skyldig Medhold, saa man afviser skyldfris Sag i Retten.
Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 Taabens Læber fører til Trætte, hans Mund raaber højt efter Hug,
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
7 Taabens Mund er hans Vaade, hans Læber en Snare for hans Liv.
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
8 Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Bugen.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 Den, der er efterladen i Gerning, er ogsaa Broder til Ødeland.
He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
10 HERRENS Navn er et stærkt Taarn, den retfærdige løber derhen og bjærges.
A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
11 Den riges Gods er hans faste Stad, og tykkes ham en knejsende Mur.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Mands Hovmod gaar forud for Fald, Ydmyghed forud for Ære.
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 Om nogen svarer, førend han hører, regnes det ham til Daarskab og Skændsel.
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14 Mands Mod udholder Sygdom, men hvo kan bære en sønderbrudt Aand?
The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 Den forstandiges Hjerte vinder sig Kundskab, de vises Øre attraar Kundskab.
The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Gaver aabner et Menneske Vej og fører ham hen til de store.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 Den, der taler først i en Trætte har Ret, til den anden kommer og gaar ham efter.
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 Loddet gør Ende paa Trætter og skiller de stærkeste ad.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
19 Krænket Broder er som en Fæstning, Trætter som Portslaa for Borg.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 Mands Bug mættes af Mundens Frugt, han mættes af Læbernes Grøde.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Død og Liv er i Tungens Vold, hvo der tøjler den, nyder dens Frugt.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22 Fandt man en Hustru, fandt man Lykken og modtog Naade fra HERREN.
[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23 Fattigmand beder og trygler, Rigmand svarer med haarde Ord.
[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
24 Med mange Fæller kan Mand gaa til Grunde, men Ven kan overgaa Broder i Troskab.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
