Proverbs 18
1 He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
Occasiones quaerit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
Non recipit stultus verba prudentiae: nisi ea dixeris quae versantur in corde eius.
3 Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—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 fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri: et torrens redundans fons sapientiae.
5 Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Accipere personam impii in iudicio non est bonum, ut declines a veritate iudicii.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
Labia stulti miscent se rixis: et os eius iurgia provocat.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Os stulti contritio eius: et labia ipsius, ruina animae eius.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Verba bilinguis, quasi simplicia: et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum deiicit timor: animae autem effeminatorum esurient.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo, frater est sua opera dissipantis.
10 The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.
Turris fortissima, nomen Domini: ad ipsam currit iustus, et exaltabitur.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
Substantia divitis urbs roboris eius, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
12 The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis: et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
13 Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
14 The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam: spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?
15 The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Cor prudens possidebit scientiam: et auris sapientium quaerit doctrinam.
16 The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
Donum hominis dilatat viam eius, et ante principes spatium ei facit.
17 The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
Iustus, prior est accusator sui: venit amicus eius, et investigabit eum.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque diiudicat.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
Frater, qui adiuvatur a fratre, quasi civitas firma: et iudicia quasi vectes urbium.
20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
De fructu oris viri replebitur venter eius: et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Mors, et vita in manu linguae: qui diligunt eam, comedent fructus eius.
22 [Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
Qui invenit mulierem bonam, invenit bonum: et hauriet iucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam, expellit bonum: qui autem tenet adulteram, stultus est et insipiens.
23 The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
Cum obsecrationibus loquitur pauper: et dives effabitur rigide.
24 A man with friends—to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
Vir amicabilis ad societatem, magis amicus erit, quam frater.
