1Hellere godt Navn end megen rigdom, Yndest er bedre end Sølv og Guld
1A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
2Rig og fattig mødes, HERREN har skabt dem begge.
2Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
3Den kloge ser Faren og søger i Skjul, tankeløse går videre og bøder.
3The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4Lønnen for Ydmyghed og HERRENs Frygt er Rigdom, Ære og Liv.
4The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5På den svigefuldes Vej er der Torne og Snarer; vil man vogte sin Sjæl, må man holde sig fra dem.
5Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
6Væn Drengen til den Vej, han skal følge, da viger han ikke derfra, selv gammel.
6Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
7Over Fattigfolk råder den rige, Låntager bliver Långivers Træl.
7The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8Hvo Uret sår, vil høste Fortræd, hans Vredes Ris skal slå ham selv.
8Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9Den vennesæle velsignes, thi han deler sit Brød med den ringe.
9The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10Driv Spotteren ud, så går Trætten med, og Hiv og Smæden får Ende.
10Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
11HERREN elsker den rene af Hjertet; med Ynde på Læben er man Kongens Ven.
11Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
12HERRENs Øjne agter på Kundskab, men han kuldkaster troløses Ord.
12The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13Den lade siger: "En Løve på Gaden! Jeg kan let blive revet ihjel på Torvet."
13The slothful hath said, `A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.`
14Fremmed Kvindes Mund er en bundløs Grav, den, HERREN er vred på, falder deri.
14A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15Dårskab er knyttet til Ynglingens Hjerte, Tugtens Ris skal tjerne den fra ham.
15Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
16Vold mod den ringe øger hans Eje, Gave til Rigmand gør ham kun fattig. -
16He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
17Bøj Øret og hør de vises Ord, vend Hjertet til og kend deres Liflighed!
17Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18Vogter du dem i dit Indre, er de alle rede på Læben.
18For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19For at din Lid skal stå til HERREN, lærer jeg dig i Dag.
19That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20Alt i Går optegned jeg til dig, alt i Forgårs Råd og Kundskab
20Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
21for at lære dig rammende Sandhedsord, at du kan svare sandt, når du spørges.
21To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22Røv ej fra den ringe, fordi han er ringe, knus ikke den arme i Porten:
22Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23thi HERREN fører deres Sag og raner deres Ransmænds Liv.
23For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24Vær ej Ven med den, der let bliver hidsig, omgås ikke vredladen Mand,
24Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25at du ikke skal lære hans Stier og hente en Snare for din Sjæl.
25Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26Hør ikke til dem, der giver Håndslag, dem, som borger for Gæld!
26Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27Såfremt du ej kan betale, tager man Sengen, du ligger i.
27If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28Flyt ej ældgamle Skel, dem, dine Fædre satte.
28Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29Ser du en Mand, som er snar til sin Gerning, da skal han stedes for Konger, ikke for Folk af ringe Stand.
29Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!