Proverbs 24
1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
[Ne æmuleris viros malos, nec desideres esse cum eis:
2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum, et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
Sapientia ædificabitur domus, et prudentia roborabitur.
4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
In doctrina replebuntur cellaria, universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.
5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
Vir sapiens fortis est, et vir doctus robustus et validus:
6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
quia cum dispositione initur bellum, et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt.
7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
Excelsa stulto sapientia; in porta non aperiet os suum.
8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
Qui cogitat mala facere stultus vocabitur:
9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
cogitatio stulti peccatum est, et abominatio hominum detractor.
10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
Si desperaveris lassus in die angustiæ, imminuetur fortitudo tua.]
11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
[Erue eos qui ducuntur ad mortem, et qui trahuntur ad interitum, liberare ne cesses.
12 But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
Si dixeris: Vires non suppetunt; qui inspector est cordis ipse intelligit: et servatorem animæ tuæ nihil fallit, reddetque homini juxta opera sua.
13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est, et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo.
14 Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
Sic et doctrina sapientiæ animæ tuæ: quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem, et spes tua non peribit.
15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
Ne insidieris, et quæras impietatem in domo justi, neque vastes requiem ejus.
16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
Septies enim cadet justus, et resurget: impii autem corruent in malum.
17 If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus ne gaudeas, et in ruina ejus ne exsultet cor tuum:
18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei, et auferat ab eo iram suam.
19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
Ne contendas cum pessimis, nec æmuleris impios:
20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali, et lucerna impiorum extinguetur.
21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem, et cum detractoribus non commiscearis:
22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum, et ruinam utriusque quis novit?]
23 And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement.
Hæc quoque sapientibus. [Cognoscere personam in judicio non est bonum.
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
Qui dicunt impio: Justus es: maledicent eis populi, et detestabuntur eos tribus.
25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
Qui arguunt eum laudabuntur, et super ipsos veniet benedictio.
26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
Labia deosculabitur qui recta verba respondet.
27 Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
Præpara foris opus tuum, et diligenter exerce agrum tuum, ut postea ædifices domum tuam.
28 Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum, nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis.
29 Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
Ne dicas: Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei; reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.]
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
[Per agrum hominis pigri transivi, et per vineam viri stulti:
31 If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
et ecce totum repleverant urticæ, et operuerant superficiem ejus spinæ, et maceria lapidum destructa erat.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
Quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo, et exemplo didici disciplinam.
33 [The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
Parum, inquam, dormies, modicum dormitabis; pauxillum manus conseres ut quiescas:
34 But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas, et mendicitas quasi vir armatus.]
