< Proverbs 20 >
1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.
[Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
2 The fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring; the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.
Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
3 It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict, but every fool jumps into an argument.
Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
4 The lazy person does not plow in autumn; he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.
Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
5 The purpose in a human heart is like deep water, but someone with understanding will draw it out.
Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
6 Many a person proclaims he is loyal, but who can find one who is faithful?
Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?]
7 The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.
[Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.
8 A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.
Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum; purus sum a peccato?
10 Differing weights and unequal measures— Yahweh hates them both.
Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
11 Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— Yahweh made them both.
Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem: Dominus fecit utrumque.
13 Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.
Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
14 “Bad! Bad!” says the buyer, but when he goes away he boasts.
Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
15 There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.]
16 Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.
[Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
17 Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
18 Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.
Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
19 A gossip reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.
Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
20 If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.
Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:
21 An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good in the end.
hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
22 Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.
Ne dicas: Reddam malum: exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
23 Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.
Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.
24 A person's steps are directed by Yahweh; how then can he understand his way?
A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
25 It is a snare for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,” and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.
Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.]
26 A wise king winnows the wicked and he turns a threshing wheel over them.
[Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
27 The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all his inmost parts.
Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
28 Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king; his throne is made secure by love.
Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
29 The glory of young men is their strength and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.
Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.
30 Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil and beatings make the innermost parts clean.
Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.]