Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Juda.
2 The glory of God [is] to hide a thing, And the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.
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—[are] unsearchable.
Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum.
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur justitia thronus ejus.
6 Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
7 For better [that] he has said to you, “Come up here,” Than [that] he humbles you before a noble, Whom your eyes have seen.
Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc, quam ut humilieris coram principe.
8 Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
Quæ viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in jurgio cito, ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
9 Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem.
13 As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And he refreshes 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, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus et promissa non complens.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
16 You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
Mel invenisti: comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
Jaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
20 Whoever is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on natron, And a singer of songs on 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 he who is hating you hungers, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirsts, cause him to drink water.
Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum; si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
22 For you are putting coals on his head, And YHWH gives repayment to you.
prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
Melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta, justus cadens coram impio.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum, sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
