Ordsprogene 4
1 Hør, I Sønner, paa en Faders Tugt, lyt til for at vinde Forstand;
Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:
2 thi gavnlig Viden giver jeg jer, slip ej hvad jeg har lært jer.
For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.
3 Da jeg var min Faders Dreng, min Moders Kælebarn og eneste,
For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.
4 lærte han mig og sagde: Lad dit Hjerte gribe om mine Ord, vogt mine Bud, saa skal du leve;
And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:
5 køb Visdom, køb Forstand, du glemme det ikke, vend dig ej bort fra min Munds Ord;
Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.
6 slip den ikke, saa vil den vogte dig, elsk den, saa vil den værne dig!
Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.
7 Køb Visdom for det bedste, du ejer, køb Forstand for alt, hvad du har;
The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.
8 hold den højt, saa bringer den dig højt til Vejrs, den bringer dig Ære, naar du favner den;
Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.
9 den sætter en yndig Krans paa dit Hoved; den rækker dig en dejlig Krone.
She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.
10 Hør, min Søn, tag imod mine Ord, saa bliver dine Leveaar mange.
Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours.
11 Jeg viser dig Visdommens Vej, leder dig ad Rettens Spor;
I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.
12 naar du gaar, skal din Gang ej hæmmes, og løber du, snubler du ikke;
When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.
13 hold fast ved Tugt, lad den ikke fare, tag Vare paa den, thi den er dit Liv.
Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.
14 Kom ikke paa gudløses Sti, skrid ej frem ad de ondes Vej.
Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.
15 sky den og følg den ikke, vig fra den, gaa udenom;
Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.
16 thi de sover ikke, naar de ikke har syndet, og Søvnen flyr dem, naar de ej har bragt Fald.
For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.
17 Thi de æder Gudløsheds Brød og drikker Urettens Vin.
The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.
18 men retfærdiges Sti er som straalende Lys, der vokser i Glans til højlys Dag:
But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.
19 Gudløses Vej er som Mørket, de skønner ej, hvad de snubler over,
The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.
20 Mærk dig, min Søn, mine Ord, bøj Øret til, hvad jeg siger;
My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.
21 det slippe dig ikke af Syne, du vogte det dybt i dit Hjerte;
Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.
22 thi det er Liv for dem, der finder det, Helse for alt deres Kød.
For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.
23 Vogt dit Hjerte mer end alt andet, thi derfra udspringer Livet.
And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.
24 Hold dig fra Svig med din Mund, lad Læbernes Falskhed være dig fjern.
Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.
25 Lad dine Øjne se lige ud, dit Blik skue lige frem;
Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.
26 gaa ad det lige Spor, lad alle dine Veje sigte mod Maalet;
Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.
27 bøj hverken til højre eller venstre, lad Foden vige fra ondt!
Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
