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] noisy, And any going astray in it 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] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
3 Mands Ære er det at undgaa Trætte, men alle Taaber vil Strid.
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4 Om Efteraaret pløjer den lade ikke, han søger i Høst, men finder intet.
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Raad i Mands Hjerte er dybe Vande, men Mand med Indsigt drager det op.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
6 Mangen kaldes en velvillig Mand, men hvem kan finde en trofast Mand?
A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
7 Retfærdig er den, som lydefrit vandrer, hans Sønner faar Lykke efter ham.
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
8 Kongen, der sidder i Dommersædet, sigter alt ondt med sit Blik.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
9 Hvo kan sige: »Jeg rensed mit Hjerte, og jeg er ren for Synd!«
Who saith, 'I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
10 To Slags Vægt og to Slags Maal, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Selv Drengen kendes paa det, han gør, om han er ren og ret hans Færd.
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12 Øret, der hører, og Øjet, der ser, HERREN skabte dem begge.
A hearing ear, and a 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 become poor, Open thine eyes — be satisfied [with] bread.
14 Køberen siger: »Usselt, usselt!« men skryder af Handelen, naar han gaar bort.
'Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15 Har man end Guld og Perler i Mængde, kosteligst Smykke er Kundskabslæber.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16 Tag hans Klæder, han borged for en anden, pant ham for fremmedes Skyld!
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17 Sødt smager Løgnens Brød, bagefter fyldes Munden med Grus.
Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.
18 Planer, der lægges ved Raadslagning, lykkes; før Krig efter modent Overlæg!
Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19 Bagtaleren røber, hvad ham er betroet, hav ej med en aabenmundet at gøre!
A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.
20 Den, der bander Fader og Moder, i Bælgmørke gaar hans Lampe ud.
Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
21 Først haster man efter en Arv, men til sidst velsignes den ikke.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Sig ikke: »Ondt vil jeg gengælde!« Bi paa HERREN, saa hjælper han dig.
Do not say, 'I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23 To Slags Lodder er HERREN en Gru, det er ikke godt, at Vægten er falsk.
An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 Fra HERREN er Mands Fjed, hvor kan et Menneske fatte sin Skæbne!
From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man — how understandeth he his way?
25 Det er farligt at sige tankeløst: »Helligt!« og først efter Løftet tænke sig om.
A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
26 Viis Konge sigter de gudløse, lader Tærskehjul gaa over dem.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27 Menneskets Aand er en HERRENS Lampe, den ransager alle hans Indres Kamre.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Godhed og Troskab vogter Kongen, han støtter sin Trone ved Retfærd.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
29 Unges Stolthed er deres Styrke, gamles Smykke er graanet Haar.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30 Blodige Strimer renser den onde og Hug hans Indres Kamre.
The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
