Provérbios 24

Misund ej onde Folk, hav ikke lyst til at være med dem;

thi deres Hjerte pønser på Vold, deres Læbers Ord volder Men.

Ved Visdom bygges et Hus, ved Indsigt holdes det oppe,

ved Kundskab fyldes kamrene med alskens kosteligt, herligt Gods.

Vismand er større end Kæmpe, kyndig Mand mer end Kraftkarl.

Thi Krig skal du føre efter modent Overlæg, vel står det til, hvor mange giver Råd.

Visdom er Dåren for høj, han åbner ej Munden i Porten.

Den, der har ondt i Sinde, kaldes en rænkefuld Mand.

Hvad en Dåre har for, er Synd, en Spotter er Folk en Gru.

Taber du Modet på Trængslens Dag, da er din Kraft kun ringe.

Frels dem, der slæbes til Døden, red dem, der vakler hen for at dræbes.

Spis Honning, min Søn, det er godt, og Kubens Saft er sød for din Gane;

vid, at så er og Visdom for Sjælen! Når du finder den, har du en Fremtid, dit Håb bliver ikke til intet.

Lur ej på den retfærdiges Bolig, du gudløse, ødelæg ikke hans Hjem;

thi syv Gange falder en retfærdig og står op, men gudløse styrter i Fordærv.

Falder din Fjende, så glæd dig ikke, snubler han, juble dit Hjerte ikke,

at ikke HERREN skal se det med Mishag og vende sin Vrede fra ham.

Græm dig ej over Ugerningsmænd, misund ikke de gudløse;

thi den onde har ingen Fremtid, gudløses Lampe går ud.

Frygt HERREN og Kongen, min Søn, indlad dig ikke med Folk, som gør Oprør;

thi brat kommer Ulykke fra dem, uventet Fordærv fra begge.

Også følgende Ordsprog er af vise Mænd. Partiskhed i Retten er ilde.

Mod den, som kender en skyldig fri, er Folkeslags Banden, Folkefærds Vrede;

men dem, der dømmer med Ret, går det vel, dem kommer Lykkens Velsignelse over.

Et Kys på Læberne giver den, som kommer med ærligt Svar.

Fuldfør din Gerning udendørs, gør dig færdig ude på Marken og byg dig siden et Hus!

Vidn ikke falsk mod din Næste, vær ikke letsindig med dine Læber;

Jeg kom forbi en lad Mands Mark og et uforstandigt Menneskes Vingård;

se, den var overgroet af Tidsler, ganske skjult af Nælder; Stendiget om den lå nedbrudt.

Jeg skued og skrev mig det bag Øre, jeg så og tog Lære deraf:

Lidt Søvn endnu, lidt Blund, lidt Hvile med samlagte Hænder:

Som en Stimand kommer da Fattigdom over dig, Trang som en skjoldvæbnet Mand.

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man {is} strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. {is strong: Heb. is in strength} {increaseth...: Heb. strengtheneth might}

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors {there is} safety.

Wisdom {is} too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

The thought of foolishness {is} sin: and the scorner {is} an abomination to men.

{If} thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength {is} small. {small: Heb. narrow}

If thou forbear to deliver {them that are} drawn unto death, and {those that are} ready to be slain;

If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider {it}? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth {not} he know {it}? and shall {not} he render to {every} man according to his works?

My son, eat thou honey, because {it is} good; and the honeycomb, {which is} sweet to thy taste: {to...: Heb. upon thy palate}

So {shall} the knowledge of wisdom {be} unto thy soul: when thou hast found {it}, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Lay not wait, O wicked {man}, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

For a just {man} falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

Lest the LORD see {it}, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. {it displeaseth...: Heb. it be evil in his eyes}

Fret not thyself because of evil {men}, neither be thou envious at the wicked; {Fret...: or, Keep not company with the wicked}

For there shall be no reward to the evil {man}; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. {candle: or, lamp}

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: {and} meddle not with them that are given to change: {them...: Heb. changers}

For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

These {things} also {belong} to the wise. {It is} not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou {art} righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

But to them that rebuke {him} shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. {a good...: Heb. a blessing of good}

{Every man} shall kiss {his} lips that giveth a right answer. {that...: Heb. that answereth right words}

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive {not} with thy lips.

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, {and} nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Then I saw, {and} considered {it} well: I looked upon {it, and} received instruction. {considered...: Heb. set my heart}

{Yet} a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come {as} one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. {an...: Heb. a man of shield}