Ordsprogene 24
1 Misund ej onde Folk, hav ikke lyst til at være med dem;
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
2 thi deres Hjerte pønser på Vold, deres Læbers Ord volder Men.
For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 Ved Visdom bygges et Hus, ved Indsigt holdes det oppe,
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 ved Kundskab fyldes kamrene med alskens kosteligt, herligt Gods.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
5 Vismand er større end Kæmpe, kyndig Mand mer end Kraftkarl.
A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
6 Thi Krig skal du føre efter modent Overlæg, vel står det til, hvor mange giver Råd.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
7 Visdom er Dåren for høj, han åbner ej Munden i Porten.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
8 Den, der har ondt i Sinde, kaldes en rænkefuld Mand.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 Hvad en Dåre har for, er Synd, en Spotter er Folk en Gru.
The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 Taber du Modet på Trængslens Dag, da er din Kraft kun ringe.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Frels dem, der slæbes til Døden, red dem, der vakler hen for at dræbes.
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
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 shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.
13 Spis Honning, min Søn, det er godt, og Kubens Saft er sød for din Gane;
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
14 vid, at så er og Visdom for Sjælen! Når du finder den, har du en Fremtid, dit Håb bliver ikke til intet.
So obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a [happy] 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; waste not his resting-place;
16 thi syv Gange falder en retfærdig og står op, men gudløse styrter i Fordærv.
For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 Falder din Fjende, så glæd dig ikke, snubler han, juble dit Hjerte ikke,
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 at ikke HERREN skal se det med Mishag og vende sin Vrede fra ham.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Græm dig ej over Ugerningsmænd, misund ikke de gudløse;
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 thi den onde har ingen Fremtid, gudløses Lampe går ud.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 Frygt HERREN og Kongen, min Søn, indlad dig ikke med Folk, som gør Oprør;
My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
22 thi brat kommer Ulykke fra dem, uventet Fordærv fra begge.
For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
23 Også følgende Ordsprog er af vise Mænd. Partiskhed i Retten er ilde.
These things also are for 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;
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 men dem, der dømmer med Ret, går det vel, dem kommer Lykkens Velsignelse over.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 Et Kys på Læberne giver den, som kommer med ærligt Svar.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Fuldfør din Gerning udendørs, gør dig færdig ude på Marken og byg dig siden et Hus!
Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
28 Vidn ikke falsk mod din Næste, vær ikke letsindig med dine Læber;
Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
29 sig ikke: "Jeg gør mod ham, som han gjorde mod mig, jeg gengælder hver hans Gerning."
Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 Jeg kom forbi en lad Mands Mark og et uforstandigt Menneskes Vingård;
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
31 se, den var overgroet af Tidsler, ganske skjult af Nælder; Stendiget om den lå nedbrudt.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Jeg skued og skrev mig det bag Øre, jeg så og tog Lære deraf:
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 Lidt Søvn endnu, lidt Blund, lidt Hvile med samlagte Hænder:
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 Som en Stimand kommer da Fattigdom over dig, Trang som en skjoldvæbnet Mand.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
