Ordsprogene 24
1 Misund ej onde Folk, hav ikke lyst til at være med dem;
Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 thi deres Hjerte pønser på Vold, deres Læbers Ord volder Men.
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Ved Visdom bygges et Hus, ved Indsigt holdes det oppe,
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 ved Kundskab fyldes kamrene med alskens kosteligt, herligt Gods.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Vismand er større end Kæmpe, kyndig Mand mer end Kraftkarl.
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 Thi Krig skal du føre efter modent Overlæg, vel står det til, hvor mange giver Råd.
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7 Visdom er Dåren for høj, han åbner ej Munden i Porten.
Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 Den, der har ondt i Sinde, kaldes en rænkefuld Mand.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 Hvad en Dåre har for, er Synd, en Spotter er Folk en Gru.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 Taber du Modet på Trængslens Dag, da er din Kraft kun ringe.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Frels dem, der slæbes til Døden, red dem, der vakler hen for at dræbes.
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
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 you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 Spis Honning, min Søn, det er godt, og Kubens Saft er sød for din Gane;
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your 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 you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Lur ej på den retfærdiges Bolig, du gudløse, ødelæg ikke hans Hjem;
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 thi syv Gange falder en retfærdig og står op, men gudløse styrter i Fordærv.
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Falder din Fjende, så glæd dig ikke, snubler han, juble dit Hjerte ikke,
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
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;
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 thi den onde har ingen Fremtid, gudløses Lampe går ud.
for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 Frygt HERREN og Kongen, min Søn, indlad dig ikke med Folk, som gør Oprør;
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 thi brat kommer Ulykke fra dem, uventet Fordærv fra begge.
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 Også følgende Ordsprog er af vise Mænd. Partiskhed i Retten er ilde.
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Mod den, som kender en skyldig fri, er Folkeslags Banden, Folkefærds Vrede;
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 men dem, der dømmer med Ret, går det vel, dem kommer Lykkens Velsignelse over.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Et Kys på Læberne giver den, som kommer med ærligt Svar.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Fuldfør din Gerning udendørs, gør dig færdig ude på Marken og byg dig siden et Hus!
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Vidn ikke falsk mod din Næste, vær ikke letsindig med dine Læber;
Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 sig ikke: "Jeg gør mod ham, som han gjorde mod mig, jeg gengælder hver hans Gerning."
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay 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 sluggard, 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.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Jeg skued og skrev mig det bag Øre, jeg så og tog Lære deraf:
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 Lidt Søvn endnu, lidt Blund, lidt Hvile med samlagte Hænder:
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 your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
