¹Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

¹Døde Fluer gør Salveblanderens Olie stinkende, lidt Dårskab ødelægger Visdommens Værd.

²A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.

²Den vise har sin Forstand tilhøjre, Tåben har sin til venstre,

³Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

³Hvor Dåren end færdes, svigter hans Forstand, og han røber for alle, at han er en Dåre.

⁴If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

⁴Når en Herskers Vrede rejser sig mod dig, forlad ikke derfor din Plads; thi Sagtmodighed hindrer store Synder.

⁵There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

⁵Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen; det ser ud som et Misgreb af ham, som har Magten:

⁶Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

⁶Dårskab sættes i Højsædet, nederst sidder de rige.

⁷I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.

⁷Trælle så jeg højt til Hest og Høvdinger til Fods som Trælle.

⁸He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁸Den, som graver en Grav, falder selv deri; den, som nedbryder en Mur, ham bider en Slange;

⁹Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.

⁹den, som bryder Sten, kan såre sig på dem; den, som kløver Træ, er i Fare.

¹⁰If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹⁰Når Øksen er sløv og dens Æg ej hvæsses, må Kraft lægges i; men den dygtiges Fortrin er Visdom.

¹¹If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

¹¹Bider en Slange, før den besværges, har Besværgeren ingen Gavn af sin Kunst.

¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

¹²Ord fra Vismands Mund vinder Yndest, en Dåres Læber bringer ham Våde;

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

¹³hans Tale begynder med Dårskab og ender med den værste Galskab.

¹⁴A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

¹⁴Tåben bruger mange Ord. Ej ved Mennesket, hvad der skal ske; hvad der efter hans Død skal ske, hvo siger ham det?

¹⁵The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.

¹⁵Dårens Flid gør ham træt, thi end ikke til Bys ved han Vej.

¹⁶Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

¹⁶Ve dig, du Land, hvis Konge er en Dreng og hvis Fyrster holder Gilde ved Gry.

¹⁷Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁷Held dig; du Land, hvis Konge er ædelbåren, hvis Fyrster holder Gilde til sømmelig Tid som Mænd og ikke som drankere.

¹⁸By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

¹⁸Ved Ladhed synker Bjælkelaget; når Hænderne slappes, drypper det i Huset.

¹⁹A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

¹⁹Til Morskab holder man Gæstebud, og Vin gør de levende glade; men Penge skaffer alt til Veje.

²⁰Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.

²⁰End ikke i din Tanke må 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.