Ordsprogene 25
1 Følgende er ogsaa Ordsprog af Salomo, som Kong Ezekias af Judas Mænd samlede.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 Guds Ære er det at skjule en Sag, Kongers Ære at granske en Sag.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 Himlens Højde og Jordens Dybde og Kongers Hjerte kan ingen granske.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Naar Slagger fjernes fra Sølv, saa bliver det hele lutret;
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 naar gudløse fjernes fra Kongen, grundfæstes hans Trone ved Retfærd.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Bryst dig ikke for Kongen og stil dig ikke paa de stores Plads;
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 det er bedre, du faar Bud: »Kom herop!« end man flytter dig ned for en Stormands Øjne. Hvad end dine Øjne har set,
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 skrid ikke til Trætte straks; thi hvad vil du siden gøre, naar din Næste gør dig til Skamme?
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Før Sagen med din Næste til Ende, men røb ej Andenmands Hemmelighed,
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 thi ellers vil den, der hører det, smæde dig og dit onde Rygte aldrig dø hen.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 Æbler af Guld i Skaale af Sølv er Ord, som tales i rette Tid.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 En Guldring, et gyldent Smykke er revsende Vismand for lyttende Øre.
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 Som kølende Sne en Dag i Høst er paalideligt Bud for dem, der sender ham; han kvæger sin Herres Sjæl.
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 Som Skyer og Blæst uden Regn er en Mand, der skryder med skrømtet Gavmildhed.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 Ved Taalmod overtales en Dommer, mild Tunge sønderbryder Ben.
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 Finder du Honning, saa spis til Behov, at du ikke bliver mæt og igen spyr den ud.
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 Sæt sjældent din Fod i din Næstes Hus, at han ej faar for meget af dig og ledes.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 Som Stridsøkse, Sværd og hvassen Pil er den, der vidner falsk mod sin Næste.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Som ormstukken Tand og vaklende Fod er troløs Mand paa Trængselens Dag.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 Som at lægge Frakken, naar det er Frost, og hælde surt over Natron, saa er det at synge for mismodig Mand.
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 Sulter din Fjende, saa giv ham at spise, tørster han, giv ham at drikke;
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 da sanker du gloende Kul paa hans Hoved, og HERREN lønner dig for det.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 Nordenvind fremkalder Regn, bagtalende Tunge vrede Miner.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 Hellere bo i en Krog paa Taget end fælles Hus med trættekær Kvinde.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 Hvad koldt Vand er for en vansmægtet Sjæl, er Glædesbud fra et Land i det fjerne.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Som grumset Kilde og ødelagt Væld er retfærdig, der vakler i gudløses Paasyn.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 Ej godt at spise for megen Honning, spar paa hædrende Ord.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 Som aaben By uden Mur er en Mand, der ikke kan styre sit Sind.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
