< Prædikeren 10 >

1 Døde Fluer gør Salveblanderens Olie stinkende, lidt Dårskab ødelægger Visdommens Værd.
Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honor—a little folly!
2 Den vise har sin Forstand tilhøjre, Tåben har sin til venstre,
The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
3 Hvor Dåren end færdes, svigter hans Forstand, og han røber for alle, at han er en Dåre.
And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he has said to everyone, “He [is] a fool.”
4 Når en Herskers Vrede rejser sig mod dig, forlad ikke derfor din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed hindrer store Synder.
If the spirit of the ruler goes up against you, do not leave your place, For yielding quiets great sinners.
5 Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen; det ser ud som et Misgreb af ham, som har Magten:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As ignorance that goes out from the ruler,
6 Dårskab sættes i Højsædet, nederst sidder de rige.
He has set the fool in many high places, And the rich sits in a low place.
7 Trælle så jeg højt til Hest og Høvdinger til Fods som Trælle.
I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Den, som graver en Grav, falder selv deri; den, som nedbryder en Mur, ham bider en Slange;
Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And whoever is breaking a hedge, a serpent bites him.
9 den, som bryder Sten, kan såre sig på dem; den, som kløver Træ, er i Fare.
Whoever is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoever is cleaving trees endangered 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 has been blunt, And he has not sharpened the face, Then he increases strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
11 Bider en Slange, før den besværges, har Besværgeren ingen Gavn af sin Kunst.
If the serpent bites without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
12 Ord fra Vismands Mund vinder Yndest, en Dåres Læber bringer ham Våde;
Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13 hans Tale begynder med Dårskab og ender med den værste Galskab.
The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
14 Tåben bruger mange Ord. Ej ved Mennesket, hvad der skal ske; hvad der efter hans Død skal ske, hvo siger ham det?
And the fool multiplies words: “Man does not know that which is—And that which is after him, who declares to him?”
15 Dårens Flid gør ham træt, thi end ikke til Bys ved han Vej.
The labor of the foolish wearies him, In that he has not known to go to the city.
16 Ve dig, du Land, hvis Konge er en Dreng og hvis Fyrster holder Gilde ved Gry.
Woe to you, O land, when your king [is] a youth, And your 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 are you, O land, When your king [is] a son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
18 Ved Ladhed synker Bjælkelaget; når Hænderne slappes, drypper det i Huset.
By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands the house drops.
19 Til Morskab holder man Gæstebud, og Vin gør de levende glade; men Penge skaffer alt til Veje.
For mirth they are making a feast, And wine makes life joyful, And the silver answers with all.
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.
Even in your mind do not revile a king, And in the inner parts of your bed-chamber do not revile the rich: For a bird of the heavens causes the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declares the word.

< Prædikeren 10 >