Ordsprogene 20
1 En Spotter er Vinen, stærk Drik slaar sig løs, og ingen, som raver deraf, er viis.
Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth 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 that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Mands Ære er det at undgaa Trætte, men alle Taaber vil Strid.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
4 Om Efteraaret pløjer den lade ikke, han søger i Høst, men finder intet.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Raad i Mands Hjerte er dybe Vande, men Mand med Indsigt drager det op.
Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Mangen kaldes en velvillig Mand, men hvem kan finde en trofast Mand?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
7 Retfærdig er den, som lydefrit vandrer, hans Sønner faar Lykke efter ham.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
8 Kongen, der sidder i Dommersædet, sigter alt ondt med sit Blik.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth 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.
Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
11 Selv Drengen kendes paa det, han gør, om han er ren og ret hans Færd.
Even a child is 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 hath 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 shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 Køberen siger: »Usselt, usselt!« men skryder af Handelen, naar han gaar bort.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Har man end Guld og Perler i Mængde, kosteligst Smykke er Kundskabslæber.
There is gold, and a multitude 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 that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.
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!
Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.
19 Bagtaleren røber, hvad ham er betroet, hav ej med en aabenmundet at gøre!
He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
20 Den, der bander Fader og Moder, i Bælgmørke gaar hans Lampe ud.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 Først haster man efter en Arv, men til sidst velsignes den ikke.
An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Sig ikke: »Ondt vil jeg gengælde!« Bi paa HERREN, saa hjælper han dig.
Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
23 To Slags Lodder er HERREN en Gru, det er ikke godt, at Vægten er falsk.
Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
24 Fra HERREN er Mands Fjed, hvor kan et Menneske fatte sin Skæbne!
The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?
25 Det er farligt at sige tankeløst: »Helligt!« og først efter Løftet tænke sig om.
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Viis Konge sigter de gudløse, lader Tærskehjul gaa over dem.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 Menneskets Aand er en HERRENS Lampe, den ransager alle hans Indres Kamre.
Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
28 Godhed og Troskab vogter Kongen, han støtter sin Trone ved Retfærd.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
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 grey head.
30 Blodige Strimer renser den onde og Hug hans Indres Kamre.
Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
