Ordsprogene 4
1 Hør, I sønner, på en Faders lyt til for at vinde Forstand;
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 thi gavnlig Viden giver jeg jer, slip ej hvad jeg har lært jer.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 Da jeg var min Faders Dreng, min Moders Kælebarn og eneste,
For I was my father’s son, tender and only [beloved] 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;
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5 køb Visdom, køb Forstand, du glemme det ikke, vend dig ej bort fra min Munds Ord;
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 slip den ikke, så vil den vogte dig, elsk den, så vil den værne dig!
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Køb Visdom for det bedste, du ejer, køb Forstand for alt, hvad du har;
Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 hold den højt, så bringer den dig højt til Vejrs, den bringer dig Ære, når du favner den;
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 den sætter en yndig Krans på dit Hoved; den rækker dig en dejlig Krone.
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10 Hør, min Søn, tag imod mine Ord, så bliver dine Leveår mange.
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 Jeg viser dig Visdommens Vej, leder dig ad Rettens Spor;
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12 når du går, skal din Gang ej hæmmes, og løber du, snubler du ikke;
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 hold fast ved Tugt, lad den ikke fare, tag Vare på den, thi den er dit Liv.
Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go: keep her; for she [is] thy life.
14 Kom ikke på gudløses Sti, skrid ej frem ad de ondes Vej.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men].
15 sky den og følg den ikke, vig fra den, gå udenom;
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 thi de sover ikke, når de ikke har syndet, og Søvnen flyr dem, når de ej har bragt Fald.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.
17 Thi de æder Gudløsheds Brød og drikker Urettens Vin.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 men retfærdiges Sti er som strålende Lys, der vokser i Glans til højlys Dag:
But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 Gudløses Vej er som Mørket, de skønner ej, hvad de snubler over,
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20 Mærk dig, min Søn, mine Ord, bøj Øret til, hvad jeg siger;
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 det slippe dig ikke af Syne, du vogte det dybt i dit Hjerte;
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 thi det er Liv for dem, der finder det, Helse for alt deres Kød.
For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Vogt dit Hjerte mer end alt andet, thi derfra udspringer Livet.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.
24 Hold dig fra Svig med din Mund, lad Læbernes Falskhed være dig fjern.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Lad dine Øjne se lige ud, dit Blik skue lige frem;
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 gå ad det lige Spor, lad alle dine Veje sigte mod Målet;
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 bøj hverken til højre eller venstre, lad Foden vige fra ondt!
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
