Ordsprogene 4
1 Hør, I sønner, på en Faders lyt til for at vinde Forstand;
Listen, sons, to the discipline of a father, and pay attention, so that you may know prudence.
2 thi gavnlig Viden giver jeg jer, slip ej hvad jeg har lært jer.
I will bestow upon you a good gift. Do not relinquish my law.
3 Da jeg var min Faders Dreng, min Moders Kælebarn og eneste,
For I, too, was the son of my father, tender and an only son in the sight of my mother.
4 lærte han mig og sagde: Lad dit Hjerte gribe om mine Ord, vogt mine Bud, så skal du leve;
And he taught me, and he also said: “Let your heart accept my words. Keep my precepts, and you shall live.
5 køb Visdom, køb Forstand, du glemme det ikke, vend dig ej bort fra min Munds Ord;
Obtain wisdom, obtain prudence. May you neither forget, nor turn away from, the words of my mouth.
6 slip den ikke, så vil den vogte dig, elsk den, så vil den værne dig!
Do not send her away, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will preserve you.
7 Køb Visdom for det bedste, du ejer, køb Forstand for alt, hvad du har;
The beginning of wisdom is to obtain wisdom, and, with all that you possess, to acquire prudence.
8 hold den højt, så bringer den dig højt til Vejrs, den bringer dig Ære, når du favner den;
Grasp her, and she will exalt you. You will be glorified by her, when you have embraced her.
9 den sætter en yndig Krans på dit Hoved; den rækker dig en dejlig Krone.
She will bestow upon your head an increase in graces, and she will protect you with a noble crown.
10 Hør, min Søn, tag imod mine Ord, så bliver dine Leveår mange.
Listen, my son, and accept my words, so that years of life may be multiplied for you.
11 Jeg viser dig Visdommens Vej, leder dig ad Rettens Spor;
I will demonstrate to you the way of wisdom. I will lead you along the paths of equity.
12 når du går, skal din Gang ej hæmmes, og løber du, snubler du ikke;
When you have entered by these, your steps will not be constrained, and when running, you will have no obstacle.
13 hold fast ved Tugt, lad den ikke fare, tag Vare på den, thi den er dit Liv.
Take hold of discipline. Do not dismiss it. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Kom ikke på gudløses Sti, skrid ej frem ad de ondes Vej.
Do not delight in the paths of the impious, nor permit the way of evil-doers to please you.
15 sky den og følg den ikke, vig fra den, gå udenom;
Take flight from it. Do not pass close to it. Turn away and abandon it.
16 thi de sover ikke, når de ikke har syndet, og Søvnen flyr dem, når de ej har bragt Fald.
For they do not sleep, unless they have done evil. And their sleep is quickly taken away from them, unless they have overthrown.
17 Thi de æder Gudløsheds Brød og drikker Urettens Vin.
They eat the bread of impiety, and they drink the wine of iniquity.
18 men retfærdiges Sti er som strålende Lys, der vokser i Glans til højlys Dag:
But the path of the just is like a shining light: it advances and increases, even to the day of completion.
19 Gudløses Vej er som Mørket, de skønner ej, hvad de snubler over,
The way of the impious is darkened. They do not know where they may fall.
20 Mærk dig, min Søn, mine Ord, bøj Øret til, hvad jeg siger;
My son, pay attention to my sermons, and incline your ear to my eloquent words.
21 det slippe dig ikke af Syne, du vogte det dybt i dit Hjerte;
Let them not recede from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 thi det er Liv for dem, der finder det, Helse for alt deres Kød.
For they are life to those who find them and health to all that is flesh.
23 Vogt dit Hjerte mer end alt andet, thi derfra udspringer Livet.
Preserve your heart with all watchfulness, for life proceeds from this.
24 Hold dig fra Svig med din Mund, lad Læbernes Falskhed være dig fjern.
Remove from yourself a corrupt mouth, and let detracting lips be far from you.
25 Lad dine Øjne se lige ud, dit Blik skue lige frem;
Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids precede your steps.
26 gå ad det lige Spor, lad alle dine Veje sigte mod Målet;
Direct the path of your feet, and all your ways shall be secure.
27 bøj hverken til højre eller venstre, lad Foden vige fra ondt!
Turn aside, neither to the right, nor to the left; yet turn your foot away from evil. For the Lord knows the ways that are on the right, and truly, those that are on the left are perverse. But he himself will make your courses straight. Then your journey will advance in peace.
