Ordsprogene 26
1 Som Sne om Somren og Regn Høsten så lidt hører Ære sig til for en Tåbe.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
2 Som en Spurv i Fart, som en Svale i Flugt så rammer ej Banden mod sagesløs Mand.
Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
3 Svøbe for Hest, Bidsel for Æsel og Ris for Tåbers Ryg.
A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 Svar ej Tåben efter hans Dårskab, at ikke du selv skal blive som han.
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Svar Tåben efter hans Dårskab, at han ikke skal tykkes sig viis.
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Den afhugger Fødderne og inddrikker Vold, som sender Bud ved en Tåbe.
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 Slappe som den lammes Ben er Ordsprog i Tåbers Mund.
In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
8 Som en, der binder Stenen fast i Slyngen, er den, der hædrer en Tåbe.
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 Som en Tornekæp, der falder den drukne i Hænde, er Ordsprog i Tåbers Mund.
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
10 Som en Skytte, der sårer enhver, som kommer, er den, der lejer en Tåbe og en drukken.
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 Som en Hund, der vender sig om til sit Spy, er en Tåbe, der gentager Dårskab.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
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 wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 Den lade siger: "Et Rovdyr på Vejen, en Løve ude på Torvene!"
The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 Døren drejer sig på sit Hængsel, den lade på sit Leje.
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 Den lade rækker til Fadet, men gider ikke føre Hånden til Munden.
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 Den lade tykkes sig større Vismand end syv, der har kloge Svar.
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 Den griber en Hund i Øret, som blander sig i uvedkommende Strid.
Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
18 Som en vanvittig Mand, der udslynger Gløder, Pile og Død,
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 er den, der sviger sin Næste og siger: "Jeg spøger jo kun."
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 Er der intet Brænde, går Ilden ud, er der ingen Bagtaler, stilles Trætte.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 Trækul til Gløder og Brænde til Ild og trættekær Mand til at optænde Kiv.
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
22 Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Legemets Kamre.
The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 Som Sølvovertræk på et Lerkar er ondsindet Hjerte bag glatte Læber.
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 Avindsmand hykler med Læben, i sit Indre huser han Svig;
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 gør han Røsten venlig, tro ham dog ikke, thi i hans Hjerte er syvfold Gru.
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 Den, der dølger sit Had med Svig, hans Ondskab kommer frem i Folkets Forsamling.
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
27 I Graven, man graver, falder man selv, af Stenen, man vælter, rammes man selv.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 Løgnetunge giver mange Hug, hyklersk Mund volder Fald.
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
