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.