Ordsprogene 4
1 Hør, I Sønner, paa en Faders Tugt, lyt til for at vinde Forstand;
My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
2 thi gavnlig Viden giver jeg jer, slip ej hvad jeg har lært jer.
What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
3 Da jeg var min Faders Dreng, min Moders Kælebarn og eneste,
When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
4 lærte han mig og sagde: Lad dit Hjerte gribe om mine Ord, vogt mine Bud, saa skal du leve;
my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
5 køb Visdom, køb Forstand, du glemme det ikke, vend dig ej bort fra min Munds Ord;
Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
6 slip den ikke, saa vil den vogte dig, elsk den, saa vil den værne dig!
Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
7 Køb Visdom for det bedste, du ejer, køb Forstand for alt, hvad du har;
The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
8 hold den højt, saa bringer den dig højt til Vejrs, den bringer dig Ære, naar du favner den;
If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
9 den sætter en yndig Krans paa dit Hoved; den rækker dig en dejlig Krone.
If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
10 Hør, min Søn, tag imod mine Ord, saa bliver dine Leveaar mange.
[So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
11 Jeg viser dig Visdommens Vej, leder dig ad Rettens Spor;
I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
12 naar du gaar, skal din Gang ej hæmmes, og løber du, snubler du ikke;
If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
13 hold fast ved Tugt, lad den ikke fare, tag Vare paa den, thi den er dit Liv.
Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
14 Kom ikke paa gudløses Sti, skrid ej frem ad de ondes Vej.
Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
15 sky den og følg den ikke, vig fra den, gaa udenom;
Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
16 thi de sover ikke, naar de ikke har syndet, og Søvnen flyr dem, naar de ej har bragt Fald.
because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
17 Thi de æder Gudløsheds Brød og drikker Urettens Vin.
What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
18 men retfærdiges Sti er som straalende Lys, der vokser i Glans til højlys Dag:
The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
19 Gudløses Vej er som Mørket, de skønner ej, hvad de snubler over,
[But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
20 Mærk dig, min Søn, mine Ord, bøj Øret til, hvad jeg siger;
My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
21 det slippe dig ikke af Syne, du vogte det dybt i dit Hjerte;
Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
22 thi det er Liv for dem, der finder det, Helse for alt deres Kød.
because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
23 Vogt dit Hjerte mer end alt andet, thi derfra udspringer Livet.
It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
24 Hold dig fra Svig med din Mund, lad Læbernes Falskhed være dig fjern.
Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
25 Lad dine Øjne se lige ud, dit Blik skue lige frem;
Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
26 gaa ad det lige Spor, lad alle dine Veje sigte mod Maalet;
Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
27 bøj hverken til højre eller venstre, lad Foden vige fra ondt!
Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
