Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
Hae quoque parabolae Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiae regis Iuda.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
3 As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
Caelum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
5 Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
6 Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
7 For better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
8 Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
Quae viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
9 Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
11 A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
12 As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to 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 spirit of his masters.
Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
Nubes, et ventus, et pluviae non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
15 By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
18 A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
Iaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
19 As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiae,
20 As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy 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 wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
23 As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
24 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25 As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
Aqua frigida animae sitienti, et nuncius bonus de terra longinqua.
26 As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
Fons turbatus pede, et vena corrupta, iustus cadens coram impio.
27 To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
28 As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir, qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
