Ordsprogene 24
1 Misund ej onde Folk, hav ikke lyst til at være med dem;
Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 thi deres Hjerte pønser på Vold, deres Læbers Ord volder Men.
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Ved Visdom bygges et Hus, ved Indsigt holdes det oppe,
Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established;
4 ved Kundskab fyldes kamrene med alskens kosteligt, herligt Gods.
And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Vismand er større end Kæmpe, kyndig Mand mer end Kraftkarl.
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 Thi Krig skal du føre efter modent Overlæg, vel står det til, hvor mange giver Råd.
For with wise advice thou shalt make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Visdom er Dåren for høj, han åbner ej Munden i Porten.
Wisdom is as unattainable to a fool as corals; he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 Den, der har ondt i Sinde, kaldes en rænkefuld Mand.
He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
9 Hvad en Dåre har for, er Synd, en Spotter er Folk en Gru.
The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 Taber du Modet på Trængslens Dag, da er din Kraft kun ringe.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small indeed.
11 Frels dem, der slæbes til Døden, red dem, der vakler hen for at dræbes.
Deliver them that are drawn unto death; and those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?
12 Siger du: "Se, jeg vidste det ikke" - mon ej han, der vejer Hjerter, kan skønne? Han, der tager Vare på din Sjæl, han ved det, han gengælder Mennesker, hvad de har gjort.
If thou sayest: 'Behold, we knew not this', doth not He that weigheth the hearts consider it? And He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his works?
13 Spis Honning, min Søn, det er godt, og Kubens Saft er sød for din Gane;
My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to thy taste;
14 vid, at så er og Visdom for Sjælen! Når du finder den, har du en Fremtid, dit Håb bliver ikke til intet.
So know thou wisdom to be unto thy soul; if thou hast found it, then shall there be a future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Lur ej på den retfærdiges Bolig, du gudløse, ødelæg ikke hans Hjem;
Lie not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting-place;
16 thi syv Gange falder en retfærdig og står op, men gudløse styrter i Fordærv.
For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity.
17 Falder din Fjende, så glæd dig ikke, snubler han, juble dit Hjerte ikke,
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
18 at ikke HERREN skal se det med Mishag og vende sin Vrede fra ham.
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.
19 Græm dig ej over Ugerningsmænd, misund ikke de gudløse;
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 thi den onde har ingen Fremtid, gudløses Lampe går ud.
For there will be no future to the evil man, the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Frygt HERREN og Kongen, min Søn, indlad dig ikke med Folk, som gør Oprør;
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change;
22 thi brat kommer Ulykke fra dem, uventet Fordærv fra begge.
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin from them both?
23 Også følgende Ordsprog er af vise Mænd. Partiskhed i Retten er ilde.
These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 Mod den, som kender en skyldig fri, er Folkeslags Banden, Folkefærds Vrede;
He that saith unto the wicked: 'Thou art righteous', peoples shall curse him, nations shall execrate him;
25 men dem, der dømmer med Ret, går det vel, dem kommer Lykkens Velsignelse over.
But to them that decide justly shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 Et Kys på Læberne giver den, som kommer med ærligt Svar.
He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Fuldfør din Gerning udendørs, gør dig færdig ude på Marken og byg dig siden et Hus!
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
28 Vidn ikke falsk mod din Næste, vær ikke letsindig med dine Læber;
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
29 sig ikke: "Jeg gør mod ham, som han gjorde mod mig, jeg gengælder hver hans Gerning."
Say not: 'I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.'
30 Jeg kom forbi en lad Mands Mark og et uforstandigt Menneskes Vingård;
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 se, den var overgroet af Tidsler, ganske skjult af Nælder; Stendiget om den lå nedbrudt.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Jeg skued og skrev mig det bag Øre, jeg så og tog Lære deraf:
Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.
33 Lidt Søvn endnu, lidt Blund, lidt Hvile med samlagte Hænder:
'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep' —
34 Som en Stimand kommer da Fattigdom over dig, Trang som en skjoldvæbnet Mand.
So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
