Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honor—a little folly!
Døde Fluer gør Salveblanderens Olie stinkende, lidt Dårskab ødelægger Visdommens Værd.
2 The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
Den vise har sin Forstand tilhøjre, Tåben har sin til venstre,
3 And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he has said to everyone, “He [is] a fool.”
Hvor Dåren end færdes, svigter hans Forstand, og han røber for alle, at han er en Dåre.
4 If the spirit of the ruler goes up against you, do not leave your place, For yielding quiets great sinners.
Når en Herskers Vrede rejser sig mod dig, forlad ikke derfor din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed hindrer store Synder.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As ignorance that goes out from the ruler,
Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen; det ser ud som et Misgreb af ham, som har Magten:
6 He has set the fool in many high places, And the rich sits in a low place.
Dårskab sættes i Højsædet, nederst sidder de rige.
7 I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
Trælle så jeg højt til Hest og Høvdinger til Fods som Trælle.
8 Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And whoever is breaking a hedge, a serpent bites him.
Den, som graver en Grav, falder selv deri; den, som nedbryder en Mur, ham bider en Slange;
9 Whoever is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoever is cleaving trees endangered by them.
den, som bryder Sten, kan såre sig på dem; den, som kløver Træ, er i Fare.
10 If the iron has been blunt, And he has not sharpened the face, Then he increases strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
Når Øksen er sløv og dens Æg ej hvæsses, må Kraft lægges i; men den dygtiges Fortrin er Visdom.
11 If the serpent bites without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
Bider en Slange, før den besværges, har Besværgeren ingen Gavn af sin Kunst.
12 Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool 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 latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
hans Tale begynder med Dårskab og ender med den værste Galskab.
14 And the fool multiplies words: “Man does not know that which is—And that which is after him, who declares to 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 labor of the foolish wearies him, In that he has not known to go to the city.
Dårens Flid gør ham træt, thi end ikke til Bys ved han Vej.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king [is] a youth, And your princes eat in the morning.
Ve dig, du Land, hvis Konge er en Dreng og hvis Fyrster holder Gilde ved Gry.
17 Blessed are you, O land, When your king [is] a son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
Held dig; du Land, hvis Konge er ædelbåren, hvis Fyrster holder Gilde til sømmelig Tid som Mænd og ikke som drankere.
18 By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands the house drops.
Ved Ladhed synker Bjælkelaget; når Hænderne slappes, drypper det i Huset.
19 For mirth they are making a feast, And wine makes life joyful, And the silver answers with all.
Til Morskab holder man Gæstebud, og Vin gør de levende glade; men Penge skaffer alt til Veje.
20 Even in your mind do not revile a king, And in the inner parts of your bed-chamber do not revile the rich: For a bird of the heavens causes the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declares the word.
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.
