Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Iuda.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.
Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
5 take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great;
Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
7 for better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes see.
Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
Quæ viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
10 lest he that heareth [it] disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away.
ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
11 [As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season.
Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
12 An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive ear.
Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem, et aurem obedientem.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so] is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [so] is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift.
Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
16 Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be surfeited therewith, and vomit it.
Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.
Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
Iaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
19 A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful [man] in the day of trouble.
Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
20 [As] he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart.
et amittit pallium in die frigoris. Acetum in nitro, qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo. Sicut tinea vestimento, et vermis ligno: ita tristitia viri nocet cordi.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
22 for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.
prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuncius bonus de terra longinqua.
26 A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous [man] that giveth way before the wicked.
Fons turbatus pede, et vena corrupta, iustus cadens coram impio.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is [itself] a weight.
Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is [as] a city broken down, without walls.
Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir, qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
