¹Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

¹Som Sne om Somren og Regn Høsten så lidt hører Ære sig til for en Tåbe.

²Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.

²Som en Spurv i Fart, som en Svale i Flugt så rammer ej Banden mod sagesløs Mand.

³A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

³Svøbe for Hest, Bidsel for Æsel og Ris for Tåbers Ryg.

⁴Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

⁴Svar ej Tåben efter hans Dårskab, at ikke du selv skal blive som han.

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

⁵Svar Tåben efter hans Dårskab, at han ikke skal tykkes sig viis.

⁶One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

⁶Den afhugger Fødderne og inddrikker Vold, som sender Bud ved en Tåbe.

⁷Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

⁷Slappe som den lammes Ben er Ordsprog i Tåbers Mund.

⁸As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

⁸Som en, der binder Stenen fast i Slyngen, er den, der hædrer en Tåbe.

⁹Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

⁹Som en Tornekæp, der falder den drukne i Hænde, er Ordsprog i Tåbers Mund.

¹⁰As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

¹⁰Som en Skytte, der sårer enhver, som kommer, er den, der lejer en Tåbe og en drukken.

¹¹As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.

¹¹Som en Hund, der vender sig om til sit Spy, er en Tåbe, der gentager Dårskab.

¹²Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹²Ser du en Mand, der tykkes sig viis, for en Tåbe er der mere Håb end for ham.

¹³The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”

¹³Den lade siger: "Et Rovdyr på Vejen, en Løve ude på Torvene!"

¹⁴As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.

¹⁴Døren drejer sig på sit Hængsel, den lade på sit Leje.

¹⁵The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁵Den lade rækker til Fadet, men gider ikke føre Hånden til Munden.

¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

¹⁶Den lade tykkes sig større Vismand end syv, der har kloge Svar.

¹⁷Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

¹⁷Den griber en Hund i Øret, som blander sig i uvedkommende Strid.

¹⁸Som en vanvittig Mand, der udslynger Gløder, Pile og Død,

¹⁹er den, der sviger sin Næste og siger: "Jeg spøger jo kun."

²⁰For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

²⁰Er der intet Brænde, går Ilden ud, er der ingen Bagtaler, stilles Trætte.

²¹As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

²¹Trækul til Gløder og Brænde til Ild og trættekær Mand til at optænde Kiv.

²²The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.

²²Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Legemets Kamre.

²³Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

²³Som Sølvovertræk på et Lerkar er ondsindet Hjerte bag glatte Læber.

²⁴A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.

²⁴Avindsmand hykler med Læben, i sit Indre huser han Svig;

²⁵When his speech is charming, don’t believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

²⁵gør han Røsten venlig, tro ham dog ikke, thi i hans Hjerte er syvfold Gru.

²⁶His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

²⁶Den, der dølger sit Had med Svig, hans Ondskab kommer frem i Folkets Forsamling.

²⁷Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

²⁷I Graven, man graver, falder man selv, af Stenen, man vælter, rammes man selv.

²⁸A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

²⁸Løgnetunge giver mange Hug, hyklersk Mund volder Fald.