1Den, der elsker at blive vejledt, er klog,
det er tåbeligt at hade irettesættelse.
2Den gode bliver accepteret af Gud,
den, der har onde bagtanker, bliver dømt.
3Den onde lider altid af rodløshed,
den gudfrygtiges rødder stikker dybt.
4En dygtig kone er sin mands glæde og stolthed,
en dårlig kone tager livsmodet fra ham.
5Den gudfrygtige udtænker gode planer,
den gudløse udklækker løgn.
6Onde menneskers anklager bringer død med sig,
den retskafne reddes af sine kloge ord.
7De gudløse går til grunde, og deres slægt ophører,
de gudfrygtiges slægt skal bestå.
8Man beundrer et klogt menneske,
men foragter en fordærvet tankegang.
9Bedre at være beskeden, når man er velhavende,
end at være overlegen, når man intet ejer.
10Den retskafne har omsorg endog for sine dyr,
den onde er selv i bedste fald grusom.
11Den, der arbejder støt og trofast, har ressourcer nok,
den, der kun bygger luftkasteller, mangler sund fornuft.
12De onde misunder hinandens bytte,
den retskafne nyder frugten af sit arbejde.
13Den uærlige fanges i et spind af løgne,
den ærlige undgår den slags problemer.
14Fornuftig tale fører gode ting med sig,
et godt stykke arbejde resulterer i belønning.
15Den kloge tager gerne imod kritik,
en tåbe klapper sig selv på skulderen.
16En fornuftig person tager en fornærmelse i stiv arm,
en tåbe taber hovedet med det samme.
17Et ærligt menneske fortæller sandheden,
den upålidelige fylder alle med løgn.
18Skarpe ord skærer som en kniv i hjertet,
kloge ord bringer lægedom til sjælen.
19Ærlighed består tidens prøve,
løgn og bedrag afsløres hurtigt.
20De, der planlægger ondt, er fulde af bedrag,
de, der stifter fred, bliver fyldt med glæde.
21De retskafne rammes ikke af noget ondt,
de ondsindede har masser af problemer.
22Herren afskyr dem, der lyver,
men glæder sig over dem, man kan stole på.
23Den kloge praler ikke med sin viden,
en tåbe udbasunerer sin dumhed.
24Den, der arbejder trofast og godt, bliver en leder,
den dovne er i lommen på andre.
25Bekymring og ængstelse gør én nedtrykt,
et opmuntrende ord gør glad.
26De retskafne vælger deres venner med omhu,
de gudløses adfærd leder dem på afveje.
27Den dovne ender med at sulte,
den flittige samler sig ressourcer.
28Den gudfrygtiges vej fører til et godt liv,
den gudløses vej fører til død.
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.
2Good people obtain favour from the Lord,
but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
3No-one can be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
5The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8A person is praised according to their prudence,
and one with a warped mind is despised.
9Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
12The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
13Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,
and so the innocent escape trouble.
14From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
and the work of their hands brings them reward.
15The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
16Fools show their annoyance at once,
but the prudent overlook an insult.
17An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies.
18The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19Truthful lips endure for ever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.
21No harm overtakes the righteous,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
22The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
23The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
24Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in forced labour.
25Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.
26The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27The lazy do not roast12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. any game,
but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
28In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.
