Proverbs 21
1 The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
Sicut divisiones aquarum, ita cor regis in manu Domini: quocumque voluerit, inclinabit illud.
2 People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
Omnis via viri recta sibi videtur: appendit autem corda Dominus.
3 Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
Facere misericordiam et judicium magis placet Domino quam victimæ.
4 Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
Exaltatio oculorum est dilatatio cordis; lucerna impiorum peccatum.
5 Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
Cogitationes robusti semper in abundantia; omnis autem piger semper in egestate est.
6 Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
Qui congregat thesauros lingua mendacii vanus et excors est, et impingetur ad laqueos mortis.
7 The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
Rapinæ impiorum detrahent eos, quia noluerunt facere judicium.
8 Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
Perversa via viri aliena est; qui autem mundus est, rectum opus ejus.
9 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi.
10 Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
Anima impii desiderat malum: non miserebitur proximo suo.
11 When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
Mulctato pestilente, sapientior erit parvulus, et si sectetur sapientem, sumet scientiam.
12 The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
Excogitat justus de domo impii, ut detrahat impios a malo.
13 If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
Qui obturat aurem suam ad clamorem pauperis, et ipse clamabit, et non exaudietur.
14 A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
Munus absconditum extinguit iras, et donum in sinu indignationem maximam.
15 When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
Gaudium justo est facere judicium, et pavor operantibus iniquitatem.
16 Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
Vir qui erraverit a via doctrinæ in cœtu gigantum commorabitur.
17 If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
Qui diligit epulas in egestate erit; qui amat vinum et pinguia non ditabitur.
18 The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
Pro justo datur impius, et pro rectis iniquus.
19 It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
Melius est habitare in terra deserta quam cum muliere rixosa et iracunda.
20 The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
Thesaurus desiderabilis, et oleum in habitaculo justi: et imprudens homo dissipabit illud.
21 If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
Qui sequitur justitiam et misericordiam inveniet vitam, justitiam, et gloriam.
22 The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
Civitatem fortium ascendit sapiens, et destruxit robur fiduciæ ejus.
23 If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
Qui custodit os suum et linguam suam custodit ab angustiis animam suam.
24 A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
Superbus et arrogans vocatur indoctus, qui in ira operatur superbiam.
25 Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
Desideria occidunt pigrum: noluerunt enim quidquam manus ejus operari.
26 Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
Tota die concupiscit et desiderat; qui autem justus est, tribuet, et non cessabit.
27 The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
Hostiæ impiorum abominabiles, quia offeruntur ex scelere.
28 The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
Testis mendax peribit; vir obediens loquetur victoriam.
29 The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
Vir impius procaciter obfirmat vultum suum; qui autem rectus est corrigit viam suam.
30 Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
Non est sapientia, non est prudentia, non est consilium contra Dominum.
31 You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
Equus paratur ad diem belli; Dominus autem salutem tribuit.
