< Ordsprogene 26 >
1 Som Sne om Somren og Regn om Høsten saa lidt hører Ære sig til for en Taabe.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Som en Spurv i Fart, som en Svale i Flugt saa rammer ej Banden mod sagesløs Mand.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Svøbe for Hest, Bidsel for Æsel og Ris for Taabers Ryg.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Svar ej Taaben efter hans Daarskab, at ikke du selv skal blive som han.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Svar Taaben efter hans Daarskab, at han ikke skal tykkes sig viis.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Den afhugger Fødderne og inddrikker Vold, som sender Bud ved en Taabe.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Slappe som den lammes Ben er Ordsprog i Taabers Mund.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Som en, der binder Stenen fast i Slyngen, er den, der hædrer en Taabe.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Som en Tornekæp, der falder den drukne i Hænde, er Ordsprog i Taabers Mund.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Som en Skytte, der saarer enhver, som kommer, er den, der lejer en Taabe og en drukken.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Som en Hund, der vender sig om til sit Spy, er en Taabe, der gentager Daarskab.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Ser du en Mand, der tykkes sig viis, for en Taabe er der mere Haab end for ham.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Den lade siger: »Et Rovdyr paa Vejen, en Løve ude paa Torvene!«
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Døren drejer sig paa sit Hængsel, den lade paa sit Leje.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Den lade rækker til Fadet, men gider ikke føre Haanden til Munden.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Den lade tykkes sig større Vismand end syv, der har kloge Svar.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Den griber en Hund i Øret, som blander sig i uvedkommende Strid.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Som en vanvittig Mand, der udslynger Gløder, Pile og Død,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 er den, der sviger sin Næste og siger: »Jeg spøger jo kun.«
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Er der intet Brænde, gaar Ilden ud, er der ingen Bagtaler, stilles Trætte.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Trækul til Gløder og Brænde til Ild og trættekær Mand til at optænde Kiv.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Legemets Kamre.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Som Sølvovertræk paa et Lerkar er ondsindet Hjerte bag glatte Læber.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Avindsmand hykler med Læben, i sit Indre huser han Svig;
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 gør han Røsten venlig, tro ham dog ikke, thi i hans Hjerte er syvfold Gru.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Den, der dølger sit Had med Svig, hans Ondskab kommer frem i Folkets Forsamling.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 I Graven, man graver, falder man selv, af Stenen, man vælter, rammes man selv.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Løgnetunge giver mange Hug, hyklersk Mund volder Fald.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.