Ordsprogene 26
1 Som Sne om Somren og Regn om Høsten saa lidt hører Ære sig til for en Taabe.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.
2 Som en Spurv i Fart, som en Svale i Flugt saa rammer ej Banden mod sagesløs Mand.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3 Svøbe for Hest, Bidsel for Æsel og Ris for Taabers Ryg.
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Svar ej Taaben efter hans Daarskab, at ikke du selv skal blive som han.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
5 Svar Taaben efter hans Daarskab, at han ikke skal tykkes sig viis.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Den afhugger Fødderne og inddrikker Vold, som sender Bud ved en Taabe.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 Slappe som den lammes Ben er Ordsprog i Taabers Mund.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Som en, der binder Stenen fast i Slyngen, er den, der hædrer en Taabe.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 Som en Tornekæp, der falder den drukne i Hænde, er Ordsprog i Taabers Mund.
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Som en Skytte, der saarer enhver, som kommer, er den, der lejer en Taabe og en drukken.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 Som en Hund, der vender sig om til sit Spy, er en Taabe, der gentager Daarskab.
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Ser du en Mand, der tykkes sig viis, for en Taabe er der mere Haab end for ham.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 Den lade siger: »Et Rovdyr paa Vejen, en Løve ude paa Torvene!«
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 Døren drejer sig paa sit Hængsel, den lade paa sit Leje.
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 Den lade rækker til Fadet, men gider ikke føre Haanden til Munden.
The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 Den lade tykkes sig større Vismand end syv, der har kloge Svar.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 Den griber en Hund i Øret, som blander sig i uvedkommende Strid.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 Som en vanvittig Mand, der udslynger Gløder, Pile og Død,
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 er den, der sviger sin Næste og siger: »Jeg spøger jo kun.«
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 Er der intet Brænde, gaar Ilden ud, er der ingen Bagtaler, stilles Trætte.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 Trækul til Gløder og Brænde til Ild og trættekær Mand til at optænde Kiv.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Legemets Kamre.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Som Sølvovertræk paa et Lerkar er ondsindet Hjerte bag glatte Læber.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Avindsmand hykler med Læben, i sit Indre huser han Svig;
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 gør han Røsten venlig, tro ham dog ikke, thi i hans Hjerte er syvfold Gru.
When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Den, der dølger sit Had med Svig, hans Ondskab kommer frem i Folkets Forsamling.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 I Graven, man graver, falder man selv, af Stenen, man vælter, rammes man selv.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 Løgnetunge giver mange Hug, hyklersk Mund volder Fald.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
