Proverbs 20
1 Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
En Spotter er Vinen, stærk Drik slår sig løs, og ingen, som raver deraf, er viis.
2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
Som Løvebrøl er Rædslen, en Konge vækker, at vække hans Vrede er at vove sit Liv.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
Mands Ære er det at undgå Trætte, men alle Tåber vil Strid.
4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
Om Efteråret pløjer den lade ikke, han søger i Høst, men finder intet.
5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Råd i Mands Hjerte er dybe Vande, men Mand med Indsigt drager det op.
6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
Mangen kaldes en velvillig Mand, men hvem kan finde en trofast Mand?
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
Retfærdig er den, som lydefrit vandrer, hans Sønner får Lykke efter ham.
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
Kongen, der sidder i Dommersædet, sigter alt ondt med sit Blik.
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Hvo kan sige: "Jeg rensed mit Hjerte, og jeg er ren for Synd!"
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
To Slags Vægt og to Slags Mål, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
Selv Drengen kendes på det, han gør, om han er ren og ret hans Færd.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
Øret, der hører, og Øjet, der ser, HERREN skabte dem begge.
13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
Elsk ikke Søvn, at du ej bliver fattig, luk Øjnene op og bliv mæt.
14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
Køberen siger: "Usselt, usselt!" men skryder af Handelen, når han går bort.
15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
Har man end Guld og Perler i Mængde, kosteligst Smykke er Kundskabslæber.
16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
Tag hans Klæder, han borged for en anden, pant ham for fremmedes Skyld!
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Sødt smager Løgnens Brød, bagefter fyldes Munden med Grus.
18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
Planer, der lægges ved Rådslagning, lykkes; før Krig efter modent Overlæg!
19 He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
Bagtaleren røber, hvad ham er betroet, hav ej med en åbenmundet at gøre!
20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
Den, der bander Fader og Moder, i Bælgmørke går hans Lampe ud.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
Først haster man efter en Arv, men til sidst velsignes den ikke.
22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
Sig ikke: "Ondt vil jeg gengælde!" Bi på HERREN, så hjælper han dig.
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
To Slags Lodder er HERREN en Gru, det er ikke godt, at Vægten er falsk.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
Fra HERREN er Mands Fjed, hvor kan et Menneske fatte sin Skæbne!
25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
Det er farligt at sige tankeløst: "Helligt!" og først efter Løftet tænke sig om.
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
Viis Konge sigter de gudløse, lader Tærskehjul gå over dem.
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
Menneskets Ånd er en HERRENs Lampe, den ransager alle hans indres Kamre.
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
Godhed og Troskab vogter Kongen, han støtter sin Trone ved Retfærd.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
Unges Stolthed er deres Styrke, gamles Smykke er grånet Hår.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
Blodige Strimer renser den onde og Hug hans Indres Kamre.
