Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
Døde Fluer gør Salveblanderens Olie stinkende, lidt Daarskab ødelægger Visdommens Værd.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
Den vise har sin Forstand til højre, Taaben har sin til venstre,
3 Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
Hvor Daaren end færdes, svigter hans Forstand, og han røber for alle, at han er en Daare.
4 If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
Naar en Herskers Vrede rejser sig mod dig, forlad ikke derfor din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed hindrer store Synder.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
Der er et Onde, jeg saa under Solen; det ser ud som et Misgreb af ham, som har Magten:
6 A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
Daarskab sættes i Højsædet, nederst sidder de rige.
7 I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
Trælle saa jeg højt til Hest og Høvdinger til Fods som Trælle.
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Den, som graver en Grav, falder selv deri; den, som nedbryder en Mur, ham bider en Slange;
9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
den, som bryder Sten, kan saare sig paa dem; den, som kløver Træ, er i Fare.
10 If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
Naar Øksen er sløv og dens Æg ej hvæsses, maa Kraft lægges i; men den dygtiges Fortrin er Visdom.
11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
Bider en Slange, før den besværges, har Besværgeren ingen Gavn af sin Kunst.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
Ord fra Vismands Mund vinder Yndest, en Daares Læber bringer ham Vaade;
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
hans Tale begynder med Daarskab og ender med den værste Galskab.
14 A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Taaben 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 shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
Daarens Flid gør ham træt, thi end ikke til Bys ved han Vej.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.
Ve dig, du Land, hvis Konge er en Dreng og hvis Fyrster holder Gilde ved Gry.
17 Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
Held dig; du Land, hvis Konge er ædelbaaren, hvis Fyrster holder Gilde til sømmelig Tid som Mænd og ikke som Drankere.
18 By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
Ved Ladhed synker Bjælkelaget; naar Hænderne slappes, drypper det i Huset.
19 For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
Til Morskab holder man Gæstebud, og Vin gør de levende glade; men Penge skaffer alt til Veje.
20 Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
End ikke i din Tanke maa 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.
