Ordsprogene 26

1 Som Sne om Somren og Regn Høsten så lidt hører Ære sig til for en Tåbe.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.

2 Som en Spurv i Fart, som en Svale i Flugt så rammer ej Banden mod sagesløs Mand.

As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.

3 Svøbe for Hest, Bidsel for Æsel og Ris for Tåbers Ryg.

A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.

4 Svar ej Tåben efter hans Dårskab, at ikke du selv skal blive som han.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you are like to him—even you.

5 Svar Tåben efter hans Dårskab, at han ikke skal tykkes sig viis.

Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he is wise in his own eyes.

6 Den afhugger Fødderne og inddrikker Vold, som sender Bud ved en Tåbe.

He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

7 Slappe som den lammes Ben er Ordsprog i Tåbers Mund.

The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.

8 Som en, der binder Stenen fast i Slyngen, er den, der hædrer en Tåbe.

As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.

9 Som en Tornekæp, der falder den drukne i Hænde, er Ordsprog i Tåbers Mund.

A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.

10 Som en Skytte, der sårer enhver, som kommer, er den, der lejer en Tåbe og en drukken.

The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.

11 Som en Hund, der vender sig om til sit Spy, er en Tåbe, der gentager Dårskab.

As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.

12 Ser du en Mand, der tykkes sig viis, for en Tåbe er der mere Håb end for ham.

You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!

13 Den lade siger: "Et Rovdyr på Vejen, en Løve ude på Torvene!"

The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”

14 Døren drejer sig på sit Hængsel, den lade på sit Leje.

The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.

15 Den lade rækker til Fadet, men gider ikke føre Hånden til Munden.

The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.

16 Den lade tykkes sig større Vismand end syv, der har kloge Svar.

Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.

17 Den griber en Hund i Øret, som blander sig i uvedkommende Strid.

Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.

18 Som en vanvittig Mand, der udslynger Gløder, Pile og Død,

As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

19 er den, der sviger sin Næste og siger: "Jeg spøger jo kun."

So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”

20 Er der intet Brænde, går Ilden ud, er der ingen Bagtaler, stilles Trætte.

Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,

21 Trækul til Gløder og Brænde til Ild og trættekær Mand til at optænde Kiv.

Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

22 Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Legemets Kamre.

The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

23 Som Sølvovertræk på et Lerkar er ondsindet Hjerte bag glatte Læber.

Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.

24 Avindsmand hykler med Læben, i sit Indre huser han Svig;

A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,

25 gør han Røsten venlig, tro ham dog ikke, thi i hans Hjerte er syvfold Gru.

When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.

26 Den, der dølger sit Had med Svig, hans Ondskab kommer frem i Folkets Forsamling.

Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.

27 I Graven, man graver, falder man selv, af Stenen, man vælter, rammes man selv.

Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.

28 Løgnetunge giver mange Hug, hyklersk Mund volder Fald.

A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!