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 is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 Som Løvebrøl er Rædslen, en Konge vækker, at vække hans Vrede er at vove sit Liv.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provokes him to anger sins 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 will be meddling.
4 Om Efteraaret pløjer den lade ikke, han søger i Høst, men finder intet.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he 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 like 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.
The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 Kongen, der sidder i Dommersædet, sigter alt ondt med sit Blik.
A king that sits in 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.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
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, the LORD 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 you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Køberen siger: »Usselt, usselt!« men skryder af Handelen, naar han gaar bort.
It is nil, it is nil, 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 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 guarantor for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Sødt smager Løgnens Brød, bagefter fyldes Munden med Grus.
Bread of deceit 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 with good advice make war.
19 Bagtaleren røber, hvad ham er betroet, hav ej med en aabenmundet at gøre!
He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
20 Den, der bander Fader og Moder, i Bælgmørke gaar hans Lampe ud.
Whoso curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 Først haster man efter en Arv, men til sidst velsignes den ikke.
An inheritance may be got hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Sig ikke: »Ondt vil jeg gengælde!« Bi paa HERREN, saa hjælper han dig.
Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
23 To Slags Lodder er HERREN en Gru, det er ikke godt, at Vægten er falsk.
Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 Fra HERREN er Mands Fjed, hvor kan et Menneske fatte sin Skæbne!
Man's activities are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 Det er farligt at sige tankeløst: »Helligt!« og først efter Løftet tænke sig om.
It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 Viis Konge sigter de gudløse, lader Tærskehjul gaa over dem.
A wise king scatters 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 candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Godhed og Troskab vogter Kongen, han støtter sin Trone ved Retfærd.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne supported 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.
The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
