Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
Døde Fluer gør Salveblanderens Olie stinkende, lidt Daarskab ødelægger Visdommens Værd.
2 The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
Den vise har sin Forstand til højre, Taaben har sin til venstre,
3 Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
Hvor Daaren end færdes, svigter hans Forstand, og han røber for alle, at han er en Daare.
4 If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
Naar en Herskers Vrede rejser sig mod dig, forlad ikke derfor din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed hindrer store Synder.
5 Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
Der er et Onde, jeg saa under Solen; det ser ud som et Misgreb af ham, som har Magten:
6 Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
Daarskab sættes i Højsædet, nederst sidder de rige.
7 I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
Trælle saa jeg højt til Hest og Høvdinger til Fods som Trælle.
8 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
Den, som graver en Grav, falder selv deri; den, som nedbryder en Mur, ham bider en Slange;
9 He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
den, som bryder Sten, kan saare sig paa dem; den, som kløver Træ, er i Fare.
10 If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
Naar Øksen er sløv og dens Æg ej hvæsses, maa Kraft lægges i; men den dygtiges Fortrin er Visdom.
11 If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
Bider en Slange, før den besværges, har Besværgeren ingen Gavn af sin Kunst.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
Ord fra Vismands Mund vinder Yndest, en Daares Læber bringer ham Vaade;
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
hans Tale begynder med Daarskab og ender med den værste Galskab.
14 Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which 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 toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
Daarens Flid gør ham træt, thi end ikke til Bys ved han Vej.
16 Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
Ve dig, du Land, hvis Konge er en Dreng og hvis Fyrster holder Gilde ved Gry.
17 How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
Held dig; du Land, hvis Konge er ædelbaaren, hvis Fyrster holder Gilde til sømmelig Tid som Mænd og ikke som Drankere.
18 By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
Ved Ladhed synker Bjælkelaget; naar Hænderne slappes, drypper det i Huset.
19 Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
Til Morskab holder man Gæstebud, og Vin gør de levende glade; men Penge skaffer alt til Veje.
20 Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.
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.
