Prædikeren 10
1 Døde Fluer gør Salveblanderens Olie stinkende, lidt Dårskab ødelægger Visdommens Værd.
Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
2 Den vise har sin Forstand tilhøjre, Tåben har sin til venstre,
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
3 Hvor Dåren end færdes, svigter hans Forstand, og han røber for alle, at han er en Dåre.
Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4 Når en Herskers Vrede rejser sig mod dig, forlad ikke derfor din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed hindrer store Synder.
If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
5 Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen; det ser ud som et Misgreb af ham, som har Magten:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
6 Dårskab sættes i Højsædet, nederst sidder de rige.
A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7 Trælle så jeg højt til Hest og Høvdinger til Fods som Trælle.
I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
8 Den, som graver en Grav, falder selv deri; den, som nedbryder en Mur, ham bider en Slange;
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 den, som bryder Sten, kan såre sig på dem; den, som kløver Træ, er i Fare.
He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
10 Når Øksen er sløv og dens Æg ej hvæsses, må Kraft lægges i; men den dygtiges Fortrin er Visdom.
If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
11 Bider en Slange, før den besværges, har Besværgeren ingen Gavn af sin Kunst.
If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
12 Ord fra Vismands Mund vinder Yndest, en Dåres Læber bringer ham Våde;
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13 hans Tale begynder med Dårskab og ender med den værste Galskab.
The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
14 Tåben bruger mange Ord. Ej ved Mennesket, hvad der skal ske; hvad der efter hans Død skal ske, hvo siger ham det?
A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Dårens Flid gør ham træt, thi end ikke til Bys ved han Vej.
The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
16 Ve dig, du Land, hvis Konge er en Dreng og hvis Fyrster holder Gilde ved Gry.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.
17 Held dig; du Land, hvis Konge er ædelbåren, hvis Fyrster holder Gilde til sømmelig Tid som Mænd og ikke som drankere.
Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
18 Ved Ladhed synker Bjælkelaget; når Hænderne slappes, drypper det i Huset.
By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
19 Til Morskab holder man Gæstebud, og Vin gør de levende glade; men Penge skaffer alt til Veje.
For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
20 End ikke i din Tanke må du bande en Konge, end ikke i dit Sovekammer en, som er rig; thi Himlens Fugle kan udsprede Ordet, de vingede røbe, hvad du siger.
Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
