Ordsprogene 4
1 Hør, I sønner, på en Faders lyt til for at vinde Forstand;
Hear, ye sons, the correction of a father, and attend, that ye may know understanding.
2 thi gavnlig Viden giver jeg jer, slip ej hvad jeg har lært jer.
For, good teaching, have I given you, mine instruction, do not ye forsake.
3 Da jeg var min Faders Dreng, min Moders Kælebarn og eneste,
For, a son, became I to my father, tender and most precious 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;
So he taught me, and said to me—Let thy heart, lay hold of my words, Keep my commandments and live!
5 køb Visdom, køb Forstand, du glemme det ikke, vend dig ej bort fra min Munds Ord;
Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding, Do not forget, neither decline thou from the sayings of my mouth.
6 slip den ikke, så vil den vogte dig, elsk den, så vil den værne dig!
Do not forsake her, and she will guard thee, —love her and she will keep thee.
7 Køb Visdom for det bedste, du ejer, køb Forstand for alt, hvad du har;
The principal thing, is wisdom, acquire thou wisdom, With all thine acquisition, acquire thou understanding.
8 hold den højt, så bringer den dig højt til Vejrs, den bringer dig Ære, når du favner den;
Exalt her, and she will set thee on high, she will 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 will give for thy head, a wreath of beauty, A crown of adorning, will she bestow upon thee.
10 Hør, min Søn, tag imod mine Ord, så bliver dine Leveår mange.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and they will multiply to thee the years of life.
11 Jeg viser dig Visdommens Vej, leder dig ad Rettens Spor;
In the way of wisdom, have I taught thee, I have guided thee in tracks of uprightness.
12 når du går, skal din Gang ej hæmmes, og løber du, snubler du ikke;
When thou walkest, thy step shall not be hemmed in, and, if 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 correction, let her not go, —keep her, for, she, is thy life.
14 Kom ikke på gudløses Sti, skrid ej frem ad de ondes Vej.
Upon the path of the lawless, do not thou enter, and do not advance in the way of the wicked:
15 sky den og følg den ikke, vig fra den, gå udenom;
Avoid it, do not pass thereon—turn from it, and depart.
16 thi de sover ikke, når de ikke har syndet, og Søvnen flyr dem, når de ej har bragt Fald.
For they sleep not, unless they can do mischief, —They rob themselves of their sleep, if they cannot cause someone to stumble,
17 Thi de æder Gudløsheds Brød og drikker Urettens Vin.
For they consume bread gotten by lawlessness, and, wine obtained by violence, they drink.
18 men retfærdiges Sti er som strålende Lys, der vokser i Glans til højlys Dag:
But, the path of the righteous, is as the light of dawn, —going on and brightening, unto meridian day.
19 Gudløses Vej er som Mørket, de skønner ej, hvad de snubler over,
The way of the lawless, is like darkness, they know not, at what they stumble.
20 Mærk dig, min Søn, mine Ord, bøj Øret til, hvad jeg siger;
My son, to my words, attend, to my sayings, incline thou thine ear;
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 thy heart;
22 thi det er Liv for dem, der finder det, Helse for alt deres Kød.
For, life, they are, to them who find them, —and, to every part of one’s flesh, they bring healing.
23 Vogt dit Hjerte mer end alt andet, thi derfra udspringer Livet.
Above all that must be guarded, keep thou thy heart, for, out of it, are the issues of life.
24 Hold dig fra Svig med din Mund, lad Læbernes Falskhed være dig fjern.
Remove from thee, perverseness of mouth, and, craftiness of lips, put far from thee.
25 Lad dine Øjne se lige ud, dit Blik skue lige frem;
Let, thine eyes, right onward, look, —and, thine eyelashes, point straight before thee.
26 gå ad det lige Spor, lad alle dine Veje sigte mod Målet;
Make level the track of thy foot, that, all thy ways, may be directed aright:
27 bøj hverken til højre eller venstre, lad Foden vige fra ondt!
Decline not, to the right hand or to the left, —Turn away thy foot from wickedness.
