¹An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

¹Særlingen søger et påskud, med vold og magt vil han strid.

²A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

²Tåben ynder ej Indsigt, men kun, at hans Tanker kommer for Lyset.

³When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.

³Hvor Gudløshed kommer, kommer og Spot, Skam og Skændsel følges.

⁴The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

⁴Ord i Mands Mund er dybe Vande, en rindende Bæk, en Visdomskilde.

⁵To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

⁵Det er ilde at give en skyldig Medhold, så man afviser skyldfris Sag i Retten.

⁶A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

⁶Tåbens Læber fører til Trætte, hans Mund råber højt efter Hug,

⁷A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

⁷Tåbens Mund er hans Våde, hans Læber en Snare for hans Liv.

⁸The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.

⁸Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Bugen.

⁹One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

⁹Den, der er efterladen i Gerning, er også Broder til Ødeland.

¹⁰The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.

¹⁰HERRENs Navn er et stærkt Tårn, den retfærdige løber derhen og bjærges.

¹¹The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

¹¹Den riges Gods er hans faste Stad, og tykkes ham en knejsende Mur.

¹²Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

¹²Mands Hovmod går forud for Fald, Ydmyghed forud for Ære.

¹³He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

¹³Om nogen svarer, førend han hører, regnes det ham til Dårskab og Skændsel.

¹⁴A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

¹⁴Mands Mod udholder Sygdom, men hvo kan bære en sønderbrudt Ånd?

¹⁵The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁵Den forstandiges Hjerte vinder sig Kundskab, de vises Øre attrår Kundskab.

¹⁶A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

¹⁶Gaver åbner et Menneske Vej og fører ham hen til de store.

¹⁷He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.

¹⁷Den, der taler først i en Trætte har Ret, til den anden kommer og går ham efter.

¹⁸The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.

¹⁸Loddet gør Ende på Trætter og skiller de stærkeste ad.

¹⁹A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a castle.

¹⁹Krænket Broder er som en Fæstning, Trætter som Portslå for Borg.

²⁰A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

²⁰Mands Bug mættes af Mundens Frugt, han mættes af Læbernes Grøde.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

²¹Død og Liv er i Tungens Vold, hvo der tøjler den, nyder dens Frugt.

²²Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.

²²Fandt man en Hustru, fandt man Lykken og modtog Nåde fra HERREN.

²³The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.

²³Fattigmand beder og trygler, Rigmand svarer med hårde Ord.

²⁴A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

²⁴Med mange Fæller kan Mand gå til Grunde, men Ven kan overgå Broder i Troskab.