Proverbs 18
1 He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ, nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde ejus.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit; sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri, et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.
5 To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate judicii.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
Labia stulti miscent se rixis, et os ejus jurgia provocat.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Os stulti contritio ejus, et labia ipsius ruina animæ ejus.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum dejicit timor; animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.
9 He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo frater est sua opera dissipantis.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
Turris fortissima nomen Domini; ad ipsum currit justus, et exaltabitur.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
Substantia divitis urbs roboris ejus, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis, et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam; spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?
15 The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Cor prudens possidebit scientiam, et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Donum hominis dilatat viam ejus, et ante principes spatium ei facit.
17 He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
Justus prior est accusator sui: venit amicus ejus, et investigabit eum.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque dijudicat.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Frater qui adjuvatur a fratre quasi civitas firma, et judicia quasi vectes urbium.
20 A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
De fructu oris viri replebitur venter ejus, et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Mors et vita in manu linguæ; qui diligunt eam comedent fructus ejus.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
Qui invenit mulierem bonam invenit bonum, et hauriet jucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam expellit bonum; qui autem tenet adulteram stultus est et impius.
23 A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper, et dives effabitur rigide.
24 He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Vir amabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater.
