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20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
    and any who go astray by it are not wise.
Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king;
    he who provokes him forfeits his life.[a]
It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,
    but every fool will be quick to quarrel.
The lazy person will not plow in season;
    he will expect at the harvest, but there will be nothing.
Deep waters are like purpose in the heart[b] of a man,
    and a man of understanding will draw it[c] out.
Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself,
    but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?
He who walks in his integrity is righteous;
    happy are his children who follow him.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    winnows all evil with his eyes.
Who will say “I have made my heart[d] clean;
    I am pure from my sin”?
10 Stone and stone, measure and measure,
    both of them[e] are an abomination of Yahweh.
11 Even by his acts, a young man[f] will make himself known,
    whether his acts are pure and upright.
12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees,
    Yahweh has made them both.[g]
13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;
    open your eyes and have plenty bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” the buyer will say,
    but when one goes to him, then he will boast.
15 There is gold and many costly stones,
    but precious jewels are lips of knowledge.
16 Take his garment, for he has given security to a stranger,
    and on behalf of a foreigner—take it as pledge.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet for the man,
    but afterward, his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 A plan[h] will be established by advice,
    and with guidance make war.
19 He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip,
    and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.
20 He who curses his father and his mother,
    his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.[i]
21 An inheritance acquired hastily at the beginning[j]
    will not be blessed at its end.
22 Do not say “I will repay evil”;
    wait for Yahweh and he will deliver you.
23 An abomination of Yahweh is a stone and a weight,[k]
    and scales of falsehood are not good.
24 Away from Yahweh are the steps of a strong man,
    and how will humankind understand his ways?
25 It is a snare to humankind to say rashly “It is holy,”
    and after vows, to scrutinize.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked,
    and he will drive a wheel over them.
27 The lamp of Yahweh is the spirit[l] of humankind,
    he who searches every innermost part.[m]
28 Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king,
    and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,[n]
    but the beauty of the aged is gray hair.
30 The blows of a wound will cleanse evil,
    as will[o] beatings of the innermost part.[p]

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:2 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  2. Proverbs 20:5 Or “mind”
  3. Proverbs 20:5 Or “her”; referring to “purpose”
  4. Proverbs 20:9 Or “mind”
  5. Proverbs 20:10 Literally “also the two of them”
  6. Proverbs 20:11 Or “young boy,” or “adolescent”
  7. Proverbs 20:12 Literally “also the two of them”
  8. Proverbs 20:18 Hebrew “plans”
  9. Proverbs 20:20 Literally “in a pupil of darkness”
  10. Proverbs 20:21 Literally “at the first”
  11. Proverbs 20:23 Literally “a stone and a stone”
  12. Proverbs 20:27 Or “soul”
  13. Proverbs 20:27 Literally “parts of the inmost”
  14. Proverbs 20:29 Or “strengthens them”
  15. Proverbs 20:30 Hebrew “and”
  16. Proverbs 20:30 Literally “parts of the inmost”

20 Vin kan føre til overmod og øl til slagsmål,
    den, der drikker sig fuld, mangler visdom.
En konges vrede er som løvens brøl,
    den er livsfarlig, når den bliver vakt.
At undgå klammeri er prisværdigt,
    kun tåber insisterer på at skændes.
Den dovne gider ikke pløje i såtiden
    og kigger forgæves efter korn i høsttiden.
Et menneskes motiver er som vandet i en dyb brønd,
    men den kloge formår at få dem op til overfladen.
Mange siger, at man kan regne med dem,
    men hvor finder man en virkelig trofast ven?
Retskafne mennesker er ærlige og oprigtige,
    og deres børn oplever velsignelsen deraf.
Før kongen afsiger sin dom,
    vurderer han omhyggeligt alle vidnesbyrd.
Hvem tør sige: „Mit liv er pletfrit,
    jeg har aldrig gjort noget forkert.”?
10 Herren afskyr uhæderlig handel
    og uærlige forretningsmetoder.
11 Et barns karakter afsløres i dets handlinger,
    man kan se dets gode eller dårlige motiver.
12 Herren har givet os ører og øjne,
    så lad os bruge dem til at tjene ham.
13 Bruger du tiden på at sove, bliver du fattig,
    men står du op og arbejder, vil du få din løn.
14 „Elendigt bras!” siger køberen, mens han tinger om prisen,
    men bagefter praler han af det røverkøb, han har gjort.
15 Guld og juveler kan man altid få,
    men et visdomsord er en sjælden perle.
16 Den, der stiller kaution for ukendte personer,
    bør tage imod pant fra dem.[a]
17 Et stjålet brød smager godt i begyndelsen,
    men bagefter er det som grus i munden.
18 God rådgivning giver et godt resultat,
    en god plan kan afgøre krigens udfald.
19 En sladrehank kan ikke holde sin mund,
    så pas på med dem, der snakker for meget.
20 Den, der forbander sin far eller mor,
    vil ende sit liv i det dybeste mørke.
21 En arv man får, mens man er ung,
    holder næppe, til man bliver gammel.
22 Sig ikke: „Det skal du få betalt!”
    Overgiv hellere sagen til Herren.
23 Herren afskyr dem,
    der snyder i en handel.
24 Intet menneske kender sin fremtid,
    for det er Herren, der lægger alting til rette.
25 Når du aflægger et løfte til Herren,
    så tænk først over, hvad du lover.
26 En klog konge finder de skyldige
    og giver dem den straf, de fortjener.
27 Herrens lys afslører et menneskes sjæl,[b]
    dets inderste tanker og motiver.
28 Godhed og sandhed beskytter en konge,
    handler han ret, bevarer han magten.
29 Man beundrer de unges styrke
    og respekterer de gamles livserfaring.
30 Fysisk afstraffelse kan fjerne ondskab
    og få et menneske på bedre tanker.

Footnotes

  1. 20,16 Teksten er uklar og oversættelsen usikker.
  2. 20,27 Eller „ånd”. Ordet oversættes normalt med „livsånde” eller „åndepust”.

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.

11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.

23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.

24 Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Wine Is a Mocker

20 Wine (A)is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

The [a]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

(B)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

(C)The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
(D)He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

Most men will proclaim each his own [b]goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

(E)The righteous man walks in his integrity;
(F)His children are blessed after him.

A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.

(G)Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?

10 (H)Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.

11 Even a child is (I)known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.

12 (J)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.

13 (K)Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

14 It is [c]good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But (L)the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 (M)Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

17 (N)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

18 (O)Plans are established by counsel;
(P)By wise counsel wage war.

19 (Q)He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one (R)who flatters with his lips.

20 (S)Whoever curses his father or his mother,
(T)His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

21 (U)An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
(V)Will not be blessed at the end.

22 (W)Do not say, “I will [d]recompense evil”;
(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.

24 A man’s steps are of the Lord;
How then can a man understand his own way?

25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.

26 (Y)A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.

27 (Z)The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the [e]inner depths of his heart.

28 (AA)Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by [f]lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And (AB)the splendor of old men is their gray head.

30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the [g]inner depths of the heart.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:2 Lit. fear or terror, produced by the king’s wrath
  2. Proverbs 20:6 Lit. mercy
  3. Proverbs 20:14 Lit. evil, evil
  4. Proverbs 20:22 repay
  5. Proverbs 20:27 Lit. rooms of the belly
  6. Proverbs 20:28 mercy
  7. Proverbs 20:30 Lit. rooms of the belly