Ordsprogene 8
1 Mon ikke Visdommen kalder, løfter Indsigten ikke sin Røst?
Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
2 Oppe paa Høje ved Vejen, ved Korsveje træder den frem;
On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
3 ved Porte, ved Byens Udgang, ved Dørenes Indgang raaber den:
Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
4 Jeg kalder paa eder, I Mænd, løfter min Røst til Menneskens Børn.
“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
5 I tankeløse, vind jer dog Klogskab, I Taaber, saa faa dog Forstand!
If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
6 Hør, thi jeg fører ædel Tale, aabner mine Læber med retvise Ord;
Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
7 ja, Sandhed taler min Gane, gudløse Læber er mig en Gru.
I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
8 Rette er alle Ord af min Mund, intet er falskt eller vrangt;
All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
9 de er alle ligetil for den kloge, retvise for dem der vandt Indsigt.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
10 Tag ved Lære, tag ikke mod Sølv, tag mod Kundskab fremfor udsøgt Guld;
Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
11 thi Visdom er bedre end Perler, ingen Skatte opvejer den.
For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
12 Jeg, Visdom, er Klogskabs Nabo og raader over Kundskab og Kløgt.
I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
13 HERRENS Frygt er Had til det onde. Jeg hader Hovmod og Stolthed, den onde Vej og den falske Mund.
Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
14 Jeg ejer Raad og Visdom, jeg har Forstand, jeg har Styrke.
I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
15 Ved mig kan Konger styre og Styresmænd give retfærdige Love;
It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
16 ved mig kan Fyrster raade og Stormænd dømme Jorden.
It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
17 Jeg elsker dem, der elsker mig, og de, der søger mig, finder mig.
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
18 Hos mig er der Rigdom og Ære, ældgammelt Gods og Retfærd.
With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
19 Min Frugt er bedre end Guld og Malme, min Afgrøde bedre end kosteligt Sølv.
The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.
20 Jeg vandrer paa Retfærds Vej, midt hen ad Rettens Stier
I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
21 for at tildele dem, der elsker mig, Gods og fylde deres Forraadshuse.
I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
22 Mig skabte HERREN først blandt sine Værker, i Urtid, førend han skabte andet;
The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
23 jeg blev frembragt i Evigheden, i Begyndelsen, i Jordens tidligste Tider;
I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
24 jeg fødtes, før Verdensdybet var til, før Kilderne, Vandenes Væld, var til;
I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
25 førend Bjergene sænkedes, før Højene fødtes jeg,
I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
26 førend han skabte Jord og Marker, det første af Jordsmonnets Støv.
when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
27 Da han grundfæsted Himlen, var jeg hos ham, da han satte Hvælv over Verdensdybet.
I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
28 Da han fæstede Skyerne oventil og gav Verdensdybets Kilder deres faste Sted,
when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
29 da han satte Havet en Grænse, at Vandene ej skulde bryde hans Lov, da han lagde Jordens Grundvold,
when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
30 da var jeg Fosterbarn hos ham, hans Glæde Dag efter Dag; for hans Aasyn leged jeg altid,
Then I was beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.
31 leged paa hans vide Jord og havde min Glæde af Menneskens Børn.
I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
32 Og nu, I Sønner, hør mig! Vel den, der vogter paa mine Veje!
And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
33 Hør paa Tugt og bliv vise, lad ikke haant derom!
Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
34 Lykkelig den, der hører paa mig, saa han daglig vaager ved mine Døre og vogter paa mine Dørstolper.
Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
35 Thi den, der finder mig; finder Liv og opnaar Yndest hos HERREN;
For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
36 men den, som mister mig, skader sig selv; enhver, som hader mig, elsker Døden.
But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
