Ordsprogene 4
1 Hør, I Sønner, paa en Faders Tugt, lyt til for at vinde Forstand;
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 thi gavnlig Viden giver jeg jer, slip ej hvad jeg har lært jer.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Da jeg var min Faders Dreng, min Moders Kælebarn og eneste,
For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 lærte han mig og sagde: Lad dit Hjerte gribe om mine Ord, vogt mine Bud, saa skal du leve;
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 køb Visdom, køb Forstand, du glemme det ikke, vend dig ej bort fra min Munds Ord;
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 slip den ikke, saa vil den vogte dig, elsk den, saa vil den værne dig!
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Køb Visdom for det bedste, du ejer, køb Forstand for alt, hvad du har;
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 hold den højt, saa bringer den dig højt til Vejrs, den bringer dig Ære, naar du favner den;
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 den sætter en yndig Krans paa dit Hoved; den rækker dig en dejlig Krone.
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10 Hør, min Søn, tag imod mine Ord, saa bliver dine Leveaar mange.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11 Jeg viser dig Visdommens Vej, leder dig ad Rettens Spor;
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 naar du gaar, skal din Gang ej hæmmes, og løber du, snubler du ikke;
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 hold fast ved Tugt, lad den ikke fare, tag Vare paa den, thi den er dit Liv.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14 Kom ikke paa gudløses Sti, skrid ej frem ad de ondes Vej.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 sky den og følg den ikke, vig fra den, gaa udenom;
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 thi de sover ikke, naar de ikke har syndet, og Søvnen flyr dem, naar de ej har bragt Fald.
For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Thi de æder Gudløsheds Brød og drikker Urettens Vin.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18 men retfærdiges Sti er som straalende Lys, der vokser i Glans til højlys Dag:
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19 Gudløses Vej er som Mørket, de skønner ej, hvad de snubler over,
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Mærk dig, min Søn, mine Ord, bøj Øret til, hvad jeg siger;
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 det slippe dig ikke af Syne, du vogte det dybt i dit Hjerte;
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 thi det er Liv for dem, der finder det, Helse for alt deres Kød.
For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Vogt dit Hjerte mer end alt andet, thi derfra udspringer Livet.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Hold dig fra Svig med din Mund, lad Læbernes Falskhed være dig fjern.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Lad dine Øjne se lige ud, dit Blik skue lige frem;
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 gaa ad det lige Spor, lad alle dine Veje sigte mod Maalet;
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 bøj hverken til højre eller venstre, lad Foden vige fra ondt!
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
