Ordsprogene 20
1 En Spotter er Vinen, stærk Drik slaar sig løs, og ingen, som raver deraf, er viis.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 Som Løvebrøl er Rædslen, en Konge vækker, at vække hans Vrede er at vove sit Liv.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 Mands Ære er det at undgaa Trætte, men alle Taaber vil Strid.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 Om Efteraaret pløjer den lade ikke, han søger i Høst, men finder intet.
The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Raad i Mands Hjerte er dybe Vande, men Mand med Indsigt drager det op.
Purpose in the heart of man is deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Mangen kaldes en velvillig Mand, men hvem kan finde en trofast Mand?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 Retfærdig er den, som lydefrit vandrer, hans Sønner faar Lykke efter ham.
A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
8 Kongen, der sidder i Dommersædet, sigter alt ondt med sit Blik.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Hvo kan sige: »Jeg rensed mit Hjerte, og jeg er ren for Synd!«
Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?
10 To Slags Vægt og to Slags Maal, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Selv Drengen kendes paa det, han gør, om han er ren og ret hans Færd.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Øret, der hører, og Øjet, der ser, HERREN skabte dem begge.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Elsk ikke Søvn, at du ej bliver fattig, luk Øjnene op og bliv mæt.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Køberen siger: »Usselt, usselt!« men skryder af Handelen, naar han gaar bort.
It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 Har man end Guld og Perler i Mængde, kosteligst Smykke er Kundskabslæber.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Tag hans Klæder, han borged for en anden, pant ham for fremmedes Skyld!
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
17 Sødt smager Løgnens Brød, bagefter fyldes Munden med Grus.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Planer, der lægges ved Raadslagning, lykkes; før Krig efter modent Overlæg!
Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
19 Bagtaleren røber, hvad ham er betroet, hav ej med en aabenmundet at gøre!
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Den, der bander Fader og Moder, i Bælgmørke gaar hans Lampe ud.
He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Først haster man efter en Arv, men til sidst velsignes den ikke.
An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Sig ikke: »Ondt vil jeg gengælde!« Bi paa HERREN, saa hjælper han dig.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 To Slags Lodder er HERREN en Gru, det er ikke godt, at Vægten er falsk.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
24 Fra HERREN er Mands Fjed, hvor kan et Menneske fatte sin Skæbne!
A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
25 Det er farligt at sige tankeløst: »Helligt!« og først efter Løftet tænke sig om.
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after vows.
26 Viis Konge sigter de gudløse, lader Tærskehjul gaa over dem.
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 Menneskets Aand er en HERRENS Lampe, den ransager alle hans Indres Kamre.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Godhed og Troskab vogter Kongen, han støtter sin Trone ved Retfærd.
Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
29 Unges Stolthed er deres Styrke, gamles Smykke er graanet Haar.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Blodige Strimer renser den onde og Hug hans Indres Kamre.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
