Ordsprogene 26
1 Som Sne om Somren og Regn Høsten så lidt hører Ære sig til for en Tåbe.
Like snow in summer and rain when the grain is being cut, so honour is not natural for the foolish.
2 Som en Spurv i Fart, som en Svale i Flugt så rammer ej Banden mod sagesløs Mand.
As the sparrow in her wandering and the swallow in her flight, so the curse does not come without a cause.
3 Svøbe for Hest, Bidsel for Æsel og Ris for Tåbers Ryg.
A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.
4 Svar ej Tåben efter hans Dårskab, at ikke du selv skal blive som han.
Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.
5 Svar Tåben efter hans Dårskab, at han ikke skal tykkes sig viis.
Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.
6 Den afhugger Fødderne og inddrikker Vold, som sender Bud ved en Tåbe.
He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is cutting off his feet and drinking in damage.
7 Slappe som den lammes Ben er Ordsprog i Tåbers Mund.
The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish.
8 Som en, der binder Stenen fast i Slyngen, er den, der hædrer en Tåbe.
Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.
9 Som en Tornekæp, der falder den drukne i Hænde, er Ordsprog i Tåbers Mund.
Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man overcome by drink, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man.
10 Som en Skytte, der sårer enhver, som kommer, er den, der lejer en Tåbe og en drukken.
Like an archer wounding all who go by, is a foolish man overcome by drink.
11 Som en Hund, der vender sig om til sit Spy, er en Tåbe, der gentager Dårskab.
Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.
12 Ser du en Mand, der tykkes sig viis, for en Tåbe er der mere Håb end for ham.
Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him.
13 Den lade siger: "Et Rovdyr på Vejen, en Løve ude på Torvene!"
The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 Døren drejer sig på sit Hængsel, den lade på sit Leje.
A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work on his bed.
15 Den lade rækker til Fadet, men gider ikke føre Hånden til Munden.
The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin: lifting it again to his mouth is a weariness to him.
16 Den lade tykkes sig større Vismand end syv, der har kloge Svar.
The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.
17 Den griber en Hund i Øret, som blander sig i uvedkommende Strid.
He who gets mixed up in a fight which is not his business, is like one who takes a dog by the ears while it is going by.
18 Som en vanvittig Mand, der udslynger Gløder, Pile og Død,
As one who is off his head sends about flaming sticks and arrows of death,
19 er den, der sviger sin Næste og siger: "Jeg spøger jo kun."
So is the man who gets the better of his neighbour by deceit, and says, Am I not doing so in sport?
20 Er der intet Brænde, går Ilden ud, er der ingen Bagtaler, stilles Trætte.
Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended.
21 Trækul til Gløder og Brænde til Ild og trættekær Mand til at optænde Kiv.
Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.
22 Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Legemets Kamre.
The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach.
23 Som Sølvovertræk på et Lerkar er ondsindet Hjerte bag glatte Læber.
Smooth lips and an evil heart are like a vessel of earth plated with silver waste.
24 Avindsmand hykler med Læben, i sit Indre huser han Svig;
With his lips the hater makes things seem what they are not, but deceit is stored up inside him;
25 gør han Røsten venlig, tro ham dog ikke, thi i hans Hjerte er syvfold Gru.
When he says fair words, have no belief in him; for in his heart are seven evils:
26 Den, der dølger sit Had med Svig, hans Ondskab kommer frem i Folkets Forsamling.
Though his hate is covered with deceit, his sin will be seen openly before the meeting of the people.
27 I Graven, man graver, falder man selv, af Stenen, man vælter, rammes man selv.
He who makes a hole in the earth will himself go falling into it: and on him by whom a stone is rolled the stone will come back again.
28 Løgnetunge giver mange Hug, hyklersk Mund volder Fald.
A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.
