< Proverbs 20 >
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
[Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
4 The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?]
7 He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
[Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
9 Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?
Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum; purus sum a peccato?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem: Dominus fecit utrumque.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
14 'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.]
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
[Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:
21 An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
22 Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
Ne dicas: Reddam malum: exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.
24 A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.]
26 A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
[Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.
30 Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.]