1En Spotter er Vinen, stærk Drik slår sig løs, og ingen, som raver deraf, er viis.
1Wine [is] a scorner — strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2Som Løvebrøl er Rædslen, en Konge vækker, at vække hans Vrede er at vove sit Liv.
2The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
3Mands Ære er det at undgå Trætte, men alle Tåber vil Strid.
3An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4Om Efteråret pløjer den lade ikke, han søger i Høst, men finder intet.
4Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
5Råd i Mands Hjerte er dybe Vande, men Mand med Indsigt drager det op.
5Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
6Mangen kaldes en velvillig Mand, men hvem kan finde en trofast Mand?
6A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
7Retfærdig er den, som lydefrit vandrer, hans Sønner får Lykke efter ham.
7The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
8Kongen, der sidder i Dommersædet, sigter alt ondt med sit Blik.
8A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
9Hvo kan sige: "Jeg rensed mit Hjerte, og jeg er ren for Synd!"
9Who saith, `I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?`
10To Slags Vægt og to Slags Mål, begge Dele er HERREN en Gru.
10A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
11Selv Drengen kendes på det, han gør, om han er ren og ret hans Færd.
11Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12Øret, der hører, og Øjet, der ser, HERREN skabte dem begge.
12A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13Elsk ikke Søvn, at du ej bliver fattig, luk Øjnene op og bliv mæt.
13Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes — be satisfied [with] bread.
14Køberen siger: "Usselt, usselt!" men skryder af Handelen, når han går bort.
14`Bad, bad,` saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15Har man end Guld og Perler i Mængde, kosteligst Smykke er Kundskabslæber.
15Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16Tag hans Klæder, han borged for en anden, pant ham for fremmedes Skyld!
16Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17Sødt smager Løgnens Brød, bagefter fyldes Munden med Grus.
17Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.
18Planer, der lægges ved Rådslagning, lykkes; før Krig efter modent Overlæg!
18Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19Bagtaleren røber, hvad ham er betroet, hav ej med en åbenmundet at gøre!
19A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.
20Den, der bander Fader og Moder, i Bælgmørke går hans Lampe ud.
20Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
21Først haster man efter en Arv, men til sidst velsignes den ikke.
21An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22Sig ikke: "Ondt vil jeg gengælde!" Bi på HERREN, så hjælper han dig.
22Do not say, `I recompense evil,` Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23To Slags Lodder er HERREN en Gru, det er ikke godt, at Vægten er falsk.
23An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24Fra HERREN er Mands Fjed, hvor kan et Menneske fatte sin Skæbne!
24From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man — how understandeth he his way?
25Det er farligt at sige tankeløst: "Helligt!" og først efter Løftet tænke sig om.
25A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
26Viis Konge sigter de gudløse, lader Tærskehjul gå over dem.
26A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27Menneskets Ånd er en HERRENs Lampe, den ransager alle hans indres Kamre.
27The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28Godhed og Troskab vogter Kongen, han støtter sin Trone ved Retfærd.
28Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
29Unges Stolthed er deres Styrke, gamles Smykke er grånet Hår.
29The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30Blodige Strimer renser den onde og Hug hans Indres Kamre.
30The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!