Ordsprogene 18
1 Særlingen søger et påskud, med vold og magt vil han strid.
He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
2 Tåben ynder ej Indsigt, men kun, at hans Tanker kommer for Lyset.
A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
3 Hvor Gudløshed kommer, kommer og Spot, Skam og Skændsel følges.
Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—reproach.
4 Ord i Mands Mund er dybe Vande, en rindende Bæk, en Visdomskilde.
The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 Det er ilde at give en skyldig Medhold, så man afviser skyldfris Sag i Retten.
Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 Tåbens Læber fører til Trætte, hans Mund råber højt efter Hug,
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
7 Tåbens Mund er hans Våde, hans Læber en Snare for hans Liv.
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
8 Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Bugen.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 Den, der er efterladen i Gerning, er også Broder til Ødeland.
He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
10 HERRENs Navn er et stærkt Tårn, den retfærdige løber derhen og bjærges.
The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.
11 Den riges Gods er hans faste Stad, og tykkes ham en knejsende Mur.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Mands Hovmod går forud for Fald, Ydmyghed forud for Ære.
The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
13 Om nogen svarer, førend han hører, regnes det ham til Dårskab og Skændsel.
Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
14 Mands Mod udholder Sygdom, men hvo kan bære en sønderbrudt Ånd?
The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
15 Den forstandiges Hjerte vinder sig Kundskab, de vises Øre attrår Kundskab.
The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Gaver åbner et Menneske Vej og fører ham hen til de store.
The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
17 Den, der taler først i en Trætte har Ret, til den anden kommer og går ham efter.
The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
18 Loddet gør Ende på Trætter og skiller de stærkeste ad.
The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
19 Krænket Broder er som en Fæstning, Trætter som Portslå for Borg.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 Mands Bug mættes af Mundens Frugt, han mættes af Læbernes Grøde.
From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Død og Liv er i Tungens Vold, hvo der tøjler den, nyder dens Frugt.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22 Fandt man en Hustru, fandt man Lykken og modtog Nåde fra HERREN.
[Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
23 Fattigmand beder og trygler, Rigmand svarer med hårde Ord.
The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
24 Med mange Fæller kan Mand gå til Grunde, men Ven kan overgå Broder i Troskab.
A man with friends—to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
