Ordsprogene 3

1 Min Søn, glem ikke, hvad jeg har lært dig, dit Hjerte tage vare paa mine Bud!

[My] son, forget not my laws; but let thine heart keep my words:

2 Thi en Række af Dage og Leveaar og Lykke bringer de dig.

for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Godhed og Troskab vige ej fra dig, bind dem som Baand om din Hals, skriv dem paa dit Hjertes Tavle!

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:

4 Saa finder du Naade og Yndest i Guds og Menneskers Øjne.

so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.

5 Stol paa HERREN af hele dit Hjerte, men forlad dig ikke paa din Forstand;

Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom.

6 hav ham i Tanke paa alle dine Veje, saa jævner han dine Stier.

In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.

7 Hold ikke dig selv for viis, frygt HERREN og vig fra det onde;

Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.

8 saa faar du Helse for Legemet, Lindring for dine Ledemod.

Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.

9 Ær med din Velstand HERREN med Førstegrøden af al din Avl;

Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness:

10 da fyldes dine Lader med Korn, dine Perser svømmer over af Most.

that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine.

11 Min Søn, lad ej haant om HERRENS Tugt, vær ikke ked af hans Revselse;

[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

12 HERREN revser den, han elsker, han straffer den Søn, han har kær.

for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.

13 Lykkelig den, der har opnaaet Visdom, den, der vinder sig Indsigt;

Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.

14 thi den er bedre at købe end Sølv, bedre at vinde end Guld;

For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.

15 den er mere værd end Perler, ingen Klenodier opvejer den;

And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.

16 en Række af Dage er i dens højre, i dens venstre Rigdom og Ære;

For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.

17 dens Veje er liflige Veje, og alle dens Stier er Lykke;

Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

18 den er et Livets Træ for dem, der griber den, lykkelig den, som holder den fast!

She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.

19 HERREN grundlagde Jorden med Visdom, grundfæsted Himlen med Indsigt;

God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.

20 ved hans Kundskab brød Strømmene frem, lader Skyerne Dug dryppe ned.

By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.

21 Min Søn, tag Vare paa Snilde og Kløgt, de slippe dig ikke af Syne;

[My] son, let [them] not pass from [thee], but keep my counsel and understanding:

22 saa bliver de Liv for din Sjæl og et yndigt Smykke til din Hals.

that thy soul may live, and that there may be grace round thy neck; and it shall be health to thy flesh, and safety to thy bones:

23 Da vandrer du trygt din Vej, støder ikke imod med din Fod;

that thou mayest go confidently in peace in all thy ways, and that thy foot may not stumble.

24 sætter du dig, skal du ikke skræmmes, lægger du dig, skal din Søvn vorde sød;

For if thou rest, thou shalt be undismayed; and if thou sleep, thou shalt slumber sweetly.

25 du skal ikke frygte uventet Rædsel, Uvejret, naar det kommer over gudløse;

And thou shalt not be afraid of alarm coming upon thee, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.

26 thi HERREN skal være din Tillid, han vogter din Fod, saa den ikke hildes.

For the Lord shall be over all thy ways, and shall establish thy foot that thou be not moved.

27 Nægt ikke den trængende Hjælp, naar det staar i din Magt at hjælpe;

Forbear not to do good to the poor, whensoever thy hand may have [power] to help [him].

28 sig ej til din Næste: »Gaa og kom igen, jeg vil give i Morgen!« — saafremt du har det.

Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do [him] good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth.

29 Tænk ikke paa ondt mod din Næste, naar han tillidsfuldt bor i din Nærhed.

Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in thee.

30 Yp ikke Trætte med sagesløs Mand, naar han ikke har voldet dig Men.

Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.

31 Misund ikke en Voldsmand, græm dig aldrig over hans Veje;

Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.

32 thi den falske er HERREN en Gru; mod retsindig er han fortrolig;

For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.

33 i den gudløses Hus er HERRENS Forbandelse, men retfærdiges Bolig velsigner han.

The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.

34 Over for Spottere bruger han Spot, men ydmyge giver han Naade.

The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.

35 De vise faar Ære til Arv, men Taaber høster kun Skam.

The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.