1It is better to be poor and to live without blame
than to be foolish and to twist words around.
2Getting excited about something without knowledge isn’t good.
It’s even worse to be in a hurry and miss the way.
3A person’s own foolish acts destroy their life.
But their heart is angry with the Lord.
4Wealth brings many friends.
But even the closest friend of a poor person abandons them.
5A dishonest witness will be punished.
And whoever pours out lies will not go free.
6Many try to win the favor of rulers.
And everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts.
7Poor people are avoided by their whole family.
Their friends avoid them even more.
The poor person runs after his friends to beg for help.
But they can’t be found.
8Anyone who gets wisdom loves life.
Anyone who values understanding will soon succeed.
9A dishonest witness will be punished.
And those who pour out lies will die.
10It isn’t proper for a foolish person to live in great comfort.
And it is much worse when a slave rules over princes!
11A person’s wisdom makes them patient.
They will be honored if they forgive someone who sins against them.
12A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar.
But his favor is like dew on the grass.
13A foolish child is a father’s ruin.
A nagging wife is like dripping that never stops.
14You will receive houses and wealth from your parents.
But a wise wife is given by the Lord.
15Anyone who doesn’t want to work sleeps his life away.
And a person who refuses to work goes hungry.
16Those who keep commandments keep their lives.
But those who don’t care how they live will die.
17Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the Lord.
God will reward them for what they have done.
18Train your children, because then there is hope.
Don’t do anything to bring about their deaths.
19A person with a bad temper must pay for it.
If you save them, you will have to do it again.
20Listen to advice and accept correction.
In the end you will be counted among those who are wise.
21A person may have many plans in their heart.
But the Lord’s purpose wins out in the end.
22Everyone longs for love that never fails.
It is better to be poor than to be a liar.
23Having respect for the Lord leads to life.
Then you will be content and free from trouble.
24A person who doesn’t want to work leaves his hand in the dish.
He won’t even bring it back up to his mouth!
25If you whip a person who makes fun of others,
childish people will learn to be wise.
If you warn those who already understand what is right,
they will gain even more knowledge.
26Anyone who robs their father and drives out their mother
is a child who brings shame and dishonor.
27My son, if you stop listening to what I teach you,
you will wander away from the words of knowledge.
28A dishonest witness makes fun of what is right.
The mouths of those who do wrong gulp down evil.
29Those who make fun of others will be judged.
Foolish people will be punished.
1Det er bedre at være ærlig og fattig
end at være en uhæderlig tåbe.
2Begejstring og uvidenhed er en farlig blanding,
den, der farer hurtigt frem, begår mange fejl.
3En tåbe er selv årsag til sine problemer,
selvom han giver Gud skylden.
4Rigdom tiltrækker mange venner,
det gør fattigdom ikke.
5Et falsk vidne får sin straf,
en løgner undslipper ikke.
6Man bukker dybt for en gavmild rigmand,
den, der giver gaver, har mange venner.
7Den fattiges slægtninge undgår ham,
og hans bekendte holder afstand fra ham.
Han beder hele tiden om hjælp,
men han får dem ikke overtalt.
8Man gavner sig selv ved at søge efter visdom,
den, der sætter pris på viden, får fremgang.
9Et falsk vidne får sin straf,
en løgner går til grunde.
10Det er upassende for en tåbe at leve i luksus
og for en slave at bestemme over en adelsmand.
11Der skal meget til, før de vise bliver vrede,
at bære over med en fornærmelse vinder dem respekt.
12En konges vrede er frygtelig som løvens brøl,
hans anerkendelse forfriskende som morgenduggen.
13En tåbelig søn er sin fars ulykke,
en kones anklager som evindelige dryp fra et hul i taget.
14Man kan arve sig til hus og rigdom,
men en forstående kone er en gave fra Herren.
15Den sløve og slappe sover tiden væk,
den dovne kan ikke holde sulten fra døren.
16Den, der adlyder Guds bud, gavner sig selv,
at lade hånt om sin handlemåde ender med død.
17At hjælpe den hjælpeløse er som at give Gud et lån,
han betaler det rigeligt tilbage.
18Disciplinér dine børn, for så er der håb for fremtiden,
men pas på ikke at gøre dem fortræd.
19En ilter person må tage følgen af sine handlinger,
skåner man ham, bliver han bare værre.
20Tag imod råd og vejledning,
gør du det, opnår du visdom til sidst.
21Mennesker lægger et utal af planer,
men det er Herrens planer, der lykkes.
22Det er en fordel at være ærlig og trofast,
hellere være en fattig mand end en bedrager.
23Ærefrygt for Herren fører til et godt liv,
man er mæt og tilfreds og skærmes fra ondt.
24Den dovne stikker fingrene i frugtfadet,
men gider ikke føre hånden til munden.
25En tåbe kan lære af at se en slyngel få bank,
men for den kloge er en irettesættelse nok.
26Den, der jager sin far og mor på porten,
er en skændsel og vanære for sin slægt.
27Min søn, holder du op med at lytte til vejledning,
glemmer du snart, hvad du allerede har lært.
28Et falsk vidne blæser på retfærdighed,
onde mennesker trives med ondskab.
29Spottere lærer kun, når de bliver afstraffet,
tåber lærer kun, når de får bank.
