Ordsprogene 4
1 Hør, I Sønner, paa en Faders Tugt, lyt til for at vinde Forstand;
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend, that ye may learn understanding!
2 thi gavnlig Viden giver jeg jer, slip ej hvad jeg har lært jer.
For I give you good instruction; Forsake ye not my commandments.
3 Da jeg var min Faders Dreng, min Moders Kælebarn og eneste,
For I was my father's son, A tender and only child in the sight of my mother.
4 lærte han mig og sagde: Lad dit Hjerte gribe om mine Ord, vogt mine Bud, saa skal du leve;
He taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments, and live.
5 køb Visdom, køb Forstand, du glemme det ikke, vend dig ej bort fra min Munds Ord;
Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, and depart not from, the words of my mouth.
6 slip den ikke, saa vil den vogte dig, elsk den, saa vil den værne dig!
Forsake her not, and she will guard thee: Love her, and she will preserve thee.
7 Køb Visdom for det bedste, du ejer, køb Forstand for alt, hvad du har;
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore gain wisdom, And with all thy gain, gain understanding.
8 hold den højt, saa bringer den dig højt til Vejrs, den bringer dig Ære, naar du favner den;
Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her;
9 den sætter en yndig Krans paa dit Hoved; den rækker dig en dejlig Krone.
She will give to thy head a graceful wreath, A beautiful crown will she bestow upon thee.
10 Hør, min Søn, tag imod mine Ord, saa bliver dine Leveaar mange.
Hear, O my son! and receive my sayings! So shall the years of thy life be many.
11 Jeg viser dig Visdommens Vej, leder dig ad Rettens Spor;
I have taught thee the way of wisdom, I have guided thee in the right path.
12 naar du gaar, skal din Gang ej hæmmes, og løber du, snubler du ikke;
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be confined; And, when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 hold fast ved Tugt, lad den ikke fare, tag Vare paa den, thi den er dit Liv.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; Keep her, for she is thy life.
14 Kom ikke paa gudløses Sti, skrid ej frem ad de ondes Vej.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, And go not in the way of evil men;
15 sky den og følg den ikke, vig fra den, gaa udenom;
Avoid it, pass not upon it, Turn from it, and go away.
16 thi de sover ikke, naar de ikke har syndet, og Søvnen flyr dem, naar de ej har bragt Fald.
For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to fall.
17 Thi de æder Gudløsheds Brød og drikker Urettens Vin.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18 men retfærdiges Sti er som straalende Lys, der vokser i Glans til højlys Dag:
But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
19 Gudløses Vej er som Mørket, de skønner ej, hvad de snubler over,
The way of the wicked is as thick darkness; They know not at what they stumble.
20 Mærk dig, min Søn, mine Ord, bøj Øret til, hvad jeg siger;
My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear to my sayings;
21 det slippe dig ikke af Syne, du vogte det dybt i dit Hjerte;
Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart!
22 thi det er Liv for dem, der finder det, Helse for alt deres Kød.
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Vogt dit Hjerte mer end alt andet, thi derfra udspringer Livet.
More than any thing which thou watchest, watch thy heart; For from it goeth forth life.
24 Hold dig fra Svig med din Mund, lad Læbernes Falskhed være dig fjern.
Put away from thee a deceitful mouth, And remove far from thee perverse lips.
25 Lad dine Øjne se lige ud, dit Blik skue lige frem;
Let thine eyes look straight forward, And thine eyelids be directed before thee.
26 gaa ad det lige Spor, lad alle dine Veje sigte mod Maalet;
Give heed to the path of thy foot, And let all thy ways be steadfast.
27 bøj hverken til højre eller venstre, lad Foden vige fra ondt!
Turn not to the right hand or to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.
