Ecclesiastes 10
1 Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
Døde Fluer gør Salveblanderens Olie stinkende, lidt Dårskab ødelægger Visdommens Værd.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Den vise har sin Forstand tilhøjre, Tåben har sin til venstre,
3 Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
Hvor Dåren end færdes, svigter hans Forstand, og han røber for alle, at han er en Dåre.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
Når en Herskers Vrede rejser sig mod dig, forlad ikke derfor din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed hindrer store Synder.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen; det ser ud som et Misgreb af ham, som har Magten:
6 The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
Dårskab sættes i Højsædet, nederst sidder de rige.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
Trælle så jeg højt til Hest og Høvdinger til Fods som Trælle.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
Den, som graver en Grav, falder selv deri; den, som nedbryder en Mur, ham bider en Slange;
9 He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
den, som bryder Sten, kan såre sig på dem; den, som kløver Træ, er i Fare.
10 If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
Når Øksen er sløv og dens Æg ej hvæsses, må Kraft lægges i; men den dygtiges Fortrin er Visdom.
11 If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
Bider en Slange, før den besværges, har Besværgeren ingen Gavn af sin Kunst.
12 The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
Ord fra Vismands Mund vinder Yndest, en Dåres Læber bringer ham Våde;
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
hans Tale begynder med Dårskab og ender med den værste Galskab.
14 A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
Tåben bruger mange Ord. Ej ved Mennesket, hvad der skal ske; hvad der efter hans Død skal ske, hvo siger ham det?
15 The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
Dårens Flid gør ham træt, thi end ikke til Bys ved han Vej.
16 Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Ve dig, du Land, hvis Konge er en Dreng og hvis Fyrster holder Gilde ved Gry.
17 Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
Held dig; du Land, hvis Konge er ædelbåren, hvis Fyrster holder Gilde til sømmelig Tid som Mænd og ikke som drankere.
18 By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
Ved Ladhed synker Bjælkelaget; når Hænderne slappes, drypper det i Huset.
19 Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
Til Morskab holder man Gæstebud, og Vin gør de levende glade; men Penge skaffer alt til Veje.
20 Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech.
End ikke i din Tanke må du bande en Konge, end ikke i dit Sovekammer en, som er rig; thi Himlens Fugle kan udsprede Ordet, de vingede røbe, hvad du siger.
