Proverbs 18
1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement.
Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ: nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde eius.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit: sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri: et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate iudicii.
6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Labia stulti miscent se rixis: et os eius iurgia provocat.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Os stulti contritio eius: et labia ipsius, ruina animæ eius.
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
Verba bilinguis, quasi simplicia: et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum deiicit timor: animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo, frater est sua opera dissipantis.
10 The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
Turris fortissima, nomen Domini: ad ipsum currit iustus, et exaltabitur.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Substantia divitis urbs roboris eius, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honour is humility.
Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis: et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam: spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Cor prudens possidebit scientiam: et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Donum hominis dilatat viam eius, et ante principes spatium ei facit.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
Iustus, prior est accusator sui: venit amicus eius, et investigabit eum.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque diiudicat.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
Frater, qui adiuvatur a fratre, quasi civitas firma: et iudicia quasi vectes urbium.
20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest 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; those who love it will eat its fruit.
Mors, et vita in manu linguæ: qui diligunt eam, comedent fructus eius.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
Qui invenit mulierem bonam, invenit bonum: et hauriet iucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam, expellit bonum: qui autem tenet adulteram, stultus est et impius.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper: et dives effabitur rigide.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Vir amabilis ad societatem, magis amicus erit, quam frater.
