Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Døde Fluer bringe Salvekogerens Salve til at stinke og gære; saaledes kan en liden Daarskab veje mere end Visdom og Ære.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
Den vises Hjerte er ved hans højre Side; men Daarens Hjerte er ved hans venstre Side.
3 Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
Ogsaa naar Daaren vandrer paa Vejen, fattes han Forstand, og han siger om enhver, at han er en Daare.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for deference allays great offenses.
Dersom Herskerens Vrede rejser sig imod dig, da forlad ikke din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed standser store Synder.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler:
Der er et Onde, som jeg saa under Solen, ret som det var en Fejl, der udgaar fra Herskerens Ansigt:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Daarskaben er sat paa de store Højder, men de rige sidde lavt.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and rulers walking like servants upon the earth.
Jeg saa Tjenere paa Heste og Fyrster gaa til Fods som Tjenere, paa Jorden.
8 He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
Den som graver en Grav, skal falde i den; og den som nedriver et Gærde, ham skal en Slange bide.
9 He who hews out stones shall be hurt therewith, and he who splits wood is endangered thereby.
Hvo som bryder Stene op, skal faa Smerte af dem; hvo som kløver Træ, skal komme i Fare derved.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must increase strength. But wisdom is advantageous to make right.
Naar Jernet bliver sløvt, og man ikke skærper Æggen, da maa man siden anstrenge Kræfterne; men Visdom er nyttig til at gøre en Ting rettelig.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
Dersom Slangen bider, gavner Besværgelse intet, og Tungens Ejermand har ingen Fordel.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow himself up.
Ordene af den vises Mund ere yndige; men Daarens Læber opsluge ham selv.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Hans Munds Ords Begyndelse er Daarskab; og det sidste af hans Mund er fordærvelig Galskab.
14 A fool also multiplies words; yet man knows not what shall be, and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
Og en Daare gør mange Ord; Mennesket kan ikke vide, hvad der skal ske; og hvo kan forkynde ham, hvad der skal ske efter ham.
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them, for he knows not how to go to the city.
Daarens Arbejde gør ham træt, efterdi han ikke kender Vej til By.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy rulers feast in the morning!
Ve dig, du Land! hvis Konge er et Barn, og hvis Fyrster æde om Morgenen.
17 Happy are thou, O land, when thy king is the son of noble men, and thy rulers feast in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Lykkeligt er du, Land! hvis Konge er født af de ypperste, og hvis Fyrster æde i rette Tid til Styrke og ikke til Drukkenskab.
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Ved Ladhed synke Bjælkerne, og ved Hændernes Slaphed drypper det ned i Huset.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes glad the life, and money answers all things.
Man gør Maaltid for at le, og Vinen glæder de levende, og Penge gøre alting ud.
20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought, and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber. For a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
Band ikke Kongen, end ikke i din Tanke, og band ikke en rig i dit inderste Sengekammer; thi en Fugl under Himmelen kan føre Røsten frem, og den bevingede bringer Ordet ud.
