A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs

Den sidder vel, som kan selv reise sig. He sits well who can rise without help.

Den skal ei være vaanden ad Svar, som giver andre onde Ord. He who abuses others must not be particular about the answer he gets.

Den skal endnu födes, der kan befalde alle. He is not yet born who can please everybody.

Den skal have en lang Skee, der vil söbe af Fad med Fanden. He needs a long spoon that would eat out of the same dish with the devil.

Den skal have meget Meel der vil stoppe alle Munde. He must have much meal who would stop all mouths.

Den skal have rene Fingre som en andens Næse vil snyde. He must have clean fingers who would blow another’s nose.

Den skal see ilde ud, som skal kyse Fanden. He must be ill-favoured who scares the devil.

Den skal sig selv love, der haver onde Grander. He who has bad neighbours is fain to praise himself.

Den skal staae paa et höit Bierg, der skal see sin Skiebne til Ende. He must stand high that would see the end of his own destiny.

Den skal staae tidlig op, der vil giöre alle tilpas. He had need rise betimes who would please everybody.

Den skal være en klog Vært, som vil tage Fanden i Herberge. He must be a clever host that would take the devil into his hostelry.

Den som ei vil lyde Fader, faaer vel at lyde Stivfader. He who will not obey father, will have to obey stepfather.

Den som er bidt af en Snog er bange for en Aal. He who has been bitten by a snake is afraid of an eel.

Den som Hönen föder, bör at have Ægget. He who feeds the hen ought to have the egg.

Den som kaster sig selv under Bænken, den lader de andre nok ligge. He who throws himself under the bench will be left to lie there.

Den som siger hvad han vil, maa höre hvad han ikke vil. He who says what he likes, must hear what he does not like.

Den som skal æde af en Andens Haand, bliver sielden mæt. He who is fed by another’s hand seldom gets enough.

Den som vel kan tigge, kan lade sine Penge ligge. He who knows how to beg may leave his money at home.

Den som vil gienne en anden over tre Gierder, maa selv over de to. He who would drive another over three dikes must climb over two himself.

Den Steen bliver eengang vaad, som Hvermand spytter paa. The stone that everybody spits upon will be wet at last.

Den Steen der ofte flyttes, bliver ikke mossegroet. The oft moved stone gathers no moss.

Den sviges værst, som sviger sig selv. He is most cheated who cheats himself.

Den taber ei i Trætte, som tvinger sin Tunge. He loses least in a quarrel who keeps his tongue in check.

Den veed bedst hvor Skoen trykker, som har den paa. He knows best where the shoe pinches who wears it.

Den Vei er ond at kiende, som Skibet löber i Havet. It is hard to track the path the ship follows in the ocean.

Der ere tre onde Naboer: store Floder, store Herrer, og Alfarvei. There are three bad neighbours: great rivers, great lords, and great roads.

Der er haardt i Stivmoders Haand. A stepmother has a hard hand.

Der er ikke saa liden Fisk, han stunder jo til at blive en Hval. Every little fish expects to become a whale.

Der er ingen Ild som jo haver nogen Smög. There is no fire without smoke.

Der er ingen Lægedom mod Bagvadskers Bid. There is no cure against a slanderer’s bite.

Der er mange Dage i Aaret, og end flere Maaltider. There are many days in the year, and still more meals.

Der er Raad mod Alt, uden mod Döden. There is help for everything, except death.

Der gaae mange Ord i en Sæk. It takes many words to fill a sack.

Der hörer Lykke til at fange Harer med Tromme. You must have good luck to catch hares with a drum.

Der hörer mere til Dands end et Par Kork Skoe. A pair of light shoes is not all that is needed for dancing.

Der hörer Styrke til at drage om Reb med sin Overmand. You must be strong to pull a rope against a stronger.

Der hvor Forstanden slipper, tager Lykken ved. When wisdom fails, luck helps.

Der hvor Lov slipper bör Hæder at möde. Where law lacks, honour should eke it out.

Der kommer ingen Klogskab ud, hvor ingen er inde. Where there is no wit within no wit will come out.

Der kommer ofte Ild i Spotterens Huus. The scoffer’s own house is often on fire.

Der löber meget Vand i Dammen, medens Mölleren sover. Much water runs by while the miller sleeps.

Der skal ædes, vare end alle Træer Galger. People must eat, even were every tree a gallows.

Der skal en höi Muur til at holde Frygten ude. It needs a high wall to keep out fear.

Der skal være mange Muus om at bide en Kat. It takes a good many mice to kill a cat.

Dersom Hönen ikke kaglede, vidste man ikke hvad hun havde giort. If the hen did not cackle no one would know what she had been about.

Dersom Skiægget gialdt, kunde Giedebukken præke. If the beard were all, the goat might preach.

Der vil let Hu til tung Skiæbne. It needs a light spirit to bear a heavy fate.

Der vil Salt til at drysse Sandhed med, om hun ellers skal ned. Truth must be seasoned to make it palatable.

Der vil skarp Lud til skurvet Hoved. A scald head needs strong lye.

Desmere man rörer ved Skarn desværre lugter det. The more you stir filth the worse it stinks.

De sove ikke alle der snive og snarke. All who snore are not asleep.

Det Barn der faaer Stivmoder faaer ogsaa Stivfader. The child who gets a stepmother also gets a stepfather.

Det bedste Giödsel sidder under Bondens Sko. The best manure is under the farmer’s shoe.

Det bliver vel Dag om end Hanen ei galer. Daylight will come, though the cock do not crow.

Det den Ædru har i Hiertet, har den Drukne i Munden. What the sober man has in his heart, the drunken man has on his lips.

Det dig ikke brænder, behöver du ei at blæse paa. There is no need to blow what does not burn you.

Det duer ikke for Svanen, at lære Örneunger at synge. It is not for the swan to teach eaglets to sing.

Det duer til intet at gjöre Skoe til Gæs. It is of no use making shoes for geese.

Det ene Sværd holder det andet i Skeden. One sword keeps another in the scabbard.

Det er bedre at möde vred Mand end fastende. Better cross an angry man than a fasting man.

Det er bedre at see ved Ord end ved Hugg. Better be convinced by words than by blows.

Det er bedre at spörge to Gange, end at fare vild en Gang. Better ask twice than lose your way once.

Det er daarligt at drukne paa tört Land. It is folly to drown on dry land.

Det er daarligt at synge to Viser for den Döve. It is folly to sing twice to a deaf man.

Det er daarligt at tage Tornen af en Andens Fod og sætte den i sin egen. It is folly to take a thorn out of another’s foot and put it into your own.

Det er dit som ingen kan tage fra dig. You may call that your own which no one can take from you.

Det er dyrt Smör som slikkes af en Hegle. It is dearbought butter that is licked off a woolcomb.

Det er ei alt Guld som glimrer. It is not all gold that glitters.

Det er ei Alt i Mave godt (som) i Mund södt er. What is sweet in the mouth is not always good in the stomach.

Det er ei Börneværk naar Kiærling dandser. It is no child’s play when an old woman dances.

Det er ei for Koens Bedste, at hun kommer op at age. It is not for the good of the cow when she is driven in a carriage.

Det er ei hvert Slags Træ som duer til Træskoe. Not every wood will make wooden shoes.

Det er ei hvert Sviin Kragen vil ride. It is not every hog that the crow will ride.

Det er en arm Steg, som intet drypper af. It is a poor roast that gives no dripping.

Det er en dristig Muus der giör Rede i Kattens Öre. It is a bold mouse that makes her nest in the cat’s ear.

Det er en fattig Roes, man skal laane af Forfædre. Praise borrowed from ancestors is but very sorry praise.

Det er en lad Fugl, der ei gider bygge sin egen Rede. It is a lazy bird that will not build its own nest.

Det er en ond Brönd som man skal bære Vand udi. It is a bad well that needs water to be carried to it.

Det er en ond Haand, der ei vil sit Hoved værge. It is a bad hand that refuses to guard the head.

Det er en ond Hest som ikke er Havren værd. It is a poor horse that is not worth its oats.

Det er en ond Hielp, at hielpe een fra Dynen i Halmen. That is poor help that helps you from the feather-bed to the straw.

Det er en ond Skade som kommer ingen til Gavn. It is an ill turn that does no good to any one.

Det er en ond Smed der ræddes for Gnister. He is a poor Smith who is afraid of sparks.

Det er en ringe Aarsag, hvorfor Ulven æder Faaret. It needs but slight provocation to make the wolf devour the lamb.

Det er en slem Höne, der giör Æg uden Gaarde. It is a bad hen that lays her eggs away from the farm.

Det er et klogt Barn der kiender sin egen Fader. It is a wise child that knows its own father.

Det er farligt at æde Kirsebær med store Herrer, de kaste een Stenene i Hovedet. It is dangerous to eat cherries with the great, they throw the stones at your head.

Det er for sildigt at raabe Kat, naar Flæsket er ædt. It is too late to cry cat, when the bacon is eaten.

Det er for sildigt at skyde Brönden igien naar Barnet er druknet. It is too late to cover the well when the child is drowned.

Det er for sildigt at slaae Vand paa Asken, naar Huset er brændt. It is too late to throw water on the cinders when the house is burnt down.

“Det er godt at gjöre med god Rede,” sagde Fanden, han redede sin Moders Haar med en Möghakke. ”It is easy to work with a good comb,” said the devil, when he combed his mother’s hair with a pitchfork.

Det er godt at laane Gud og Ageren, de give gode Renter. It is good to lend to God and to the soil – they pay good interest.

Det er godt at raade naar Lykken er med. It is easy to manage when fortune favours.

Det er godt at sove paa heelt Skind. It is good to sleep on a whole skin.

Det er godt at stange under anden Mands Blus. It is easy to poke another man’s fire.

Det er godt at svömme, naar en anden holder Hovedet op. It is easy to swim, when another holds up your head.

Det er godt at være kostfri af en andens Pung. It is easy to be generous out of another man’s purse.

Det er godt at være Præst om Paaske, Barn om Faste, Bonde om Juul, Föl om Hösten. It is good to be priest at Easter, child in Lent, peasant at Christmas, and foal in harvest-time.

Det er haard Kost at æde sine egne Ord. It is bitter fare to eat one’s own words.

Det er ikke enhver som veed at tage den rette So ved Öret. It is not every one who takes the right sow by the ear.

Det er ikke for ingenting naar Fanden lægger sig i Gröften. It is not for nothing that the devil lays himself down in the ditch.

Det er ikke godt at kiende sit Smör i en andens Kaal. It is not easy to know your butter in another man’s cabbage.

Det er ikke godt at skride paa Fandens Iis. It is not easy to walk upon the devil’s ice.

Det er ikke godt at stinge Biörn med Skiev. It is not easy to sting a bear with a straw.

Det er ikke hver Mand der kan bære Hög paa Haand. It is not every man that can carry a falcon on his hand.

Det er ikke lang Vei til Vennehuus. To a friend’s house the road is never long.

Det er ilde for Hönen, naar Ægget vil lære hende at kagle. The hen is ill off when the egg teaches her how to cackle.

Det er ingen liden Skalk der kiender en stor. He is no small knave who knows a great one.

Det er Konst at lee, naar det gaaer een selv ilde. It is a great art to laugh at your own misfortunes.

Det er let at byde Fanden til Gjæst, men ondt at faae ham af Huset. It is easy to bid the devil be your guest, but difficult to get rid of him.

Det er let at krybe i Træ naar det er fældet. It is easy to stride a tree when it is down.

Det er let at lægge Riis til, naar en anden lægger Rumpen til. It is easy to find the rod when another finds the bottom.

Det er lige nær til Himmels, i hvor man döer. The road to heaven is equally short, where’er we die.

Det er ondt at faae mange Hoveder under een Hat. It is difficult to get many heads under one hat.

Det er ondt at gabe mod en Ovns Mund. It is useless to gape against an oven.

Det er ondt at giöre Ild paa kold Arne. It is hard to make a fire on a cold hearth.

Det er ondt at lære gammel Hund at kure. It is hard to teach an old dog tricks.

Det er ondt at lokke Höge med tomme Hænder. It is hard to lure hawks with empty hands.

Det er ondt at plukke Haar af den Skaldede. It is not easy to pluck hairs from a bald pate.

Det er ondt at sidde imellem to Ilde. It is bad to be between two fires.

Det er ondt at skiule det hver Mand veed. It is difficult to hide what everybody knows.

Det er ondt at spytte Honning for den som har Munden fuld af Galde. It is difficult to spit honey out of a mouth full of gall.

Det er ondt at vogte den Höne som borte vil værpe. It is not easy to guard the hen that lays her eggs abroad.

Det er ondt Faar der ei gider baaret sit eget Fæt. It is a bad sheep that is too lazy to carry its own fleece.

Det er ondt Jern, som ikke er Staal udi. It is bad iron in which there is no steel.

Det er saa godt at ligge nögen som intet at have paa sig. It is as well to be naked as to have no covering.

Det er saa ondt at spytte Ilden ud og skiende sig, som at synke den og brænde sig. It is as bad to spit out the fire and be shamed, as it is to swallow it and be burnt.

Det er Sæd at Börn giöre Börne-Gierning. From children you must expect childish acts.

Det er strengt at trælle med tom Tarm. It is hard to labour with an empty belly.

Det er ringe Tröst for Beenbrud, at en anden har brudt Halsen. It is poor comfort for one who has broken his leg, that another has broken his neck.

Det er Tid at tage Hatten af, naar man seer Manden. It is time enough to take off your hat when you see the man.

Det förste Raad af en Qvinde er det bedste. A woman’s first counsel is the best.

Det giöres ei Behov at blæse ad den Ild som selv brænder. There is no use in blowing a fire that burns well.

Det har blæst haardt – Skarnet er flöiet op i Höisædet. It has been blowing hard – the dirt has been blown into high places.

Det hjælper ei at dölge for Ven det Uven veed. It is no use hiding from a friend what is known to an enemy.

Det höieste Bierg at komme over er Dörtærskelen. The most difficult mountain to cross is the threshold.

Det kan snart skee, som længe maa angres. That may be soon done, which brings long repentance.

“Det kommer igien,” sagde Manden, han gav sin So Flæsk. ”It will come back,” said the man, when he gave his sow pork.

Det kommer op i Tö (som) man fjæler i Snö. Thaw reveals what has been hidden by snow.

Det kommer vel der skee skal. That which must be, will be.

Det Korn vorder ilde malet, som bæres paa en ond Qværn. The corn that is taken to a bad mill, will be badly ground.

Det man adlyster kommer ikke far snart. A pleasant thing never comes too soon.

Det man æder af Gryden, faaer man ikke paa Fadet. That which has been eaten out of the pot cannot be put into the dish.

Det man lærer med Skade, husker man længe. What you learn to your cost you remember long.

Det Ord som er talt, sletter man ikke ud med en Svamp. Words once spoken cannot be wiped out with a sponge.

Det qvemmer bedre at skrabe Osten end skrælde den. It is better to scrape the cheese than to peel it.

Det Saar man ei kan hele, skal man ei rive op. If you cannot heal the wound, do not tear it open.

Det skal aarle kröge, som god Krog skal vorde. The branch must be bent early that is to make a good crook.

Det skal være en haard Vinter, om den ene Ulv æder den anden. It must be a hard winter when one wolf devours another.

Det som er taugt kan siges; det som er sagt kan ei ties. That which is unsaid, may be spoken; that which is said, cannot be unsaid.

Det sömmer ikke Spurv at gaae i Tranedands. It does not become the sparrow to mix in the dance of the cranes.

Det spörger en Blind om, hvorfor den elskes som er smuk. It is only the blind who ask why they are loved who are fair.

Det staaer ikke til Hunde, naar Hors skal döe. It does not depend upon the dog when the horse shall die.

Det stille Vand har den dybe Grund. Still water runs deep.

Det Ung nemmer, Gammel ei glemmer. What youth learns, age does not forget.

De Unge skal man lære, de Gamle skal man ære. Young people must be taught, old ones be honoured.

Det var Lyst at age, skulde man ikke vælte. It is pleasant driving when there is no danger of upsetting.

Döden blæser ei Lyd for sig. Death does not blow a trumpet.

Dören lukkes haardt i Laas for sandför Mand. A truthteller finds the doors closed against him.

Dristig Mand har Lykken i sit Fölge. A bold man has luck in his train.

Drukken Mand kan snart komme op at dandse. A drunken man may soon be made to dance.

Drukken Mands Glæde er tidt ædru Mands Sorg. The drunken man’s joy is often the sober man’s sorrow.

Du har nok af Munden og lidt af Ulden, sagde Fanden, han klippede en So. Much noise and little wool, said the devil, when he was shearing the sow.

Duk dig, lad gaae over; Veiret vil have sin Villie. Stoop, and let it pass; the storm will have its way.

Dyden i Midten, sagde Fanden, han sad imellem to Procuratorer. Virtue in the middle, said the Devil, when seated between two lawyers.