¹Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;

¹Hør, I sønner, på en Faders lyt til for at vinde Forstand;

²for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.

²thi gavnlig Viden giver jeg jer, slip ej hvad jeg har lært jer.

³For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.

³Da jeg var min Faders Dreng, min Moders Kælebarn og eneste,

⁴He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.

⁴lærte han mig og sagde: Lad dit Hjerte gribe om mine Ord, vogt mine Bud, så skal du leve;

⁵Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.

⁵køb Visdom, køb Forstand, du glemme det ikke, vend dig ej bort fra min Munds Ord;

⁶Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.

⁶slip den ikke, så vil den vogte dig, elsk den, så vil den værne dig!

⁷Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

⁷Køb Visdom for det bedste, du ejer, køb Forstand for alt, hvad du har;

⁸Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.

⁸hold den højt, så bringer den dig højt til Vejrs, den bringer dig Ære, når du favner den;

⁹She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”

⁹den sætter en yndig Krans på dit Hoved; den rækker dig en dejlig Krone.

¹⁰Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.

¹⁰Hør, min Søn, tag imod mine Ord, så bliver dine Leveår mange.

¹¹I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.

¹¹Jeg viser dig Visdommens Vej, leder dig ad Rettens Spor;

¹²When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.

¹²når du går, skal din Gang ej hæmmes, og løber du, snubler du ikke;

¹³Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

¹³hold fast ved Tugt, lad den ikke fare, tag Vare på den, thi den er dit Liv.

¹⁴Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.

¹⁴Kom ikke på gudløses Sti, skrid ej frem ad de ondes Vej.

¹⁵Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

¹⁵sky den og følg den ikke, vig fra den, gå udenom;

¹⁶For they don’t sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.

¹⁶thi de sover ikke, når de ikke har syndet, og Søvnen flyr dem, når de ej har bragt Fald.

¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁷Thi de æder Gudløsheds Brød og drikker Urettens Vin.

¹⁸But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.

¹⁸men retfærdiges Sti er som strålende Lys, der vokser i Glans til højlys Dag:

¹⁹The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.

¹⁹Gudløses Vej er som Mørket, de skønner ej, hvad de snubler over,

²⁰My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

²⁰Mærk dig, min Søn, mine Ord, bøj Øret til, hvad jeg siger;

²¹Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.

²¹det slippe dig ikke af Syne, du vogte det dybt i dit Hjerte;

²²For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.

²²thi det er Liv for dem, der finder det, Helse for alt deres Kød.

²³Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

²³Vogt dit Hjerte mer end alt andet, thi derfra udspringer Livet.

²⁴Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.

²⁴Hold dig fra Svig med din Mund, lad Læbernes Falskhed være dig fjern.

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.

²⁵Lad dine Øjne se lige ud, dit Blik skue lige frem;

²⁶Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.

²⁶gå ad det lige Spor, lad alle dine Veje sigte mod Målet;

²⁷Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.

²⁷bøj hverken til højre eller venstre, lad Foden vige fra ondt!