Proverbs 20
1 Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
En Spotter er Vinen, stærk Drik slår sig løs, og ingen, som raver deraf, er viis.
2 The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
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 cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Mands Ære er det at undgå Trætte, men alle Tåber vil Strid.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
Om Efteråret pløjer den lade ikke, han søger i Høst, men finder intet.
5 Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Råd i Mands Hjerte er dybe Vande, men Mand med Indsigt drager det op.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Mangen kaldes en velvillig Mand, men hvem kan finde en trofast Mand?
7 The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
Retfærdig er den, som lydefrit vandrer, hans Sønner får Lykke efter ham.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Kongen, der sidder i Dommersædet, sigter alt ondt med sit Blik.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Hvo kan sige: "Jeg rensed mit Hjerte, og jeg er ren for Synd!"
10 Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.
To Slags Vægt og to Slags Mål, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right.
Selv Drengen kendes på det, han gør, om han er ren og ret hans Færd.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Øret, der hører, og Øjet, der ser, HERREN skabte dem begge.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Elsk ikke Søvn, at du ej bliver fattig, luk Øjnene op og bliv mæt.
14 [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Køberen siger: "Usselt, usselt!" men skryder af Handelen, når han går bort.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.
Har man end Guld og Perler i Mængde, kosteligst Smykke er Kundskabslæber.
16 Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Tag hans Klæder, han borged for en anden, pant ham for fremmedes Skyld!
17 Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Sødt smager Løgnens Brød, bagefter fyldes Munden med Grus.
18 [Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Planer, der lægges ved Rådslagning, lykkes; før Krig efter modent Overlæg!
19 He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Bagtaleren røber, hvad ham er betroet, hav ej med en åbenmundet at gøre!
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Den, der bander Fader og Moder, i Bælgmørke går hans Lampe ud.
21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Først haster man efter en Arv, men til sidst velsignes den ikke.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Sig ikke: "Ondt vil jeg gengælde!" Bi på HERREN, så hjælper han dig.
23 Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance [is] not good.
To Slags Lodder er HERREN en Gru, det er ikke godt, at Vægten er falsk.
24 Man’s goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Fra HERREN er Mands Fjed, hvor kan et Menneske fatte sin Skæbne!
25 [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Det er farligt at sige tankeløst: "Helligt!" og først efter Løftet tænke sig om.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Viis Konge sigter de gudløse, lader Tærskehjul gå over dem.
27 The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Menneskets Ånd er en HERRENs Lampe, den ransager alle hans indres Kamre.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Godhed og Troskab vogter Kongen, han støtter sin Trone ved Retfærd.
29 The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.
Unges Stolthed er deres Styrke, gamles Smykke er grånet Hår.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Blodige Strimer renser den onde og Hug hans Indres Kamre.
