Ordsprogene 20
1 En Spotter er Vinen, stærk Drik slaar sig løs, og ingen, som raver deraf, er viis.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 Som Løvebrøl er Rædslen, en Konge vækker, at vække hans Vrede er at vove sit Liv.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 Mands Ære er det at undgaa Trætte, men alle Taaber vil Strid.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 Om Efteraaret pløjer den lade ikke, han søger i Høst, men finder intet.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 Raad i Mands Hjerte er dybe Vande, men Mand med Indsigt drager det op.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Mangen kaldes en velvillig Mand, men hvem kan finde en trofast Mand?
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Retfærdig er den, som lydefrit vandrer, hans Sønner faar Lykke efter ham.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Kongen, der sidder i Dommersædet, sigter alt ondt med sit Blik.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Hvo kan sige: »Jeg rensed mit Hjerte, og jeg er ren for Synd!«
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 To Slags Vægt og to Slags Maal, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Selv Drengen kendes paa det, han gør, om han er ren og ret hans Færd.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 Øret, der hører, og Øjet, der ser, HERREN skabte dem begge.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Elsk ikke Søvn, at du ej bliver fattig, luk Øjnene op og bliv mæt.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 Køberen siger: »Usselt, usselt!« men skryder af Handelen, naar han gaar bort.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 Har man end Guld og Perler i Mængde, kosteligst Smykke er Kundskabslæber.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Tag hans Klæder, han borged for en anden, pant ham for fremmedes Skyld!
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Sødt smager Løgnens Brød, bagefter fyldes Munden med Grus.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Planer, der lægges ved Raadslagning, lykkes; før Krig efter modent Overlæg!
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 Bagtaleren røber, hvad ham er betroet, hav ej med en aabenmundet at gøre!
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Den, der bander Fader og Moder, i Bælgmørke gaar hans Lampe ud.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 Først haster man efter en Arv, men til sidst velsignes den ikke.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Sig ikke: »Ondt vil jeg gengælde!« Bi paa HERREN, saa hjælper han dig.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 To Slags Lodder er HERREN en Gru, det er ikke godt, at Vægten er falsk.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 Fra HERREN er Mands Fjed, hvor kan et Menneske fatte sin Skæbne!
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 Det er farligt at sige tankeløst: »Helligt!« og først efter Løftet tænke sig om.
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 Viis Konge sigter de gudløse, lader Tærskehjul gaa over dem.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 Menneskets Aand er en HERRENS Lampe, den ransager alle hans Indres Kamre.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Godhed og Troskab vogter Kongen, han støtter sin Trone ved Retfærd.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 Unges Stolthed er deres Styrke, gamles Smykke er graanet Haar.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Blodige Strimer renser den onde og Hug hans Indres Kamre.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
