Proverbs 25
1 Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Iuda.
2 The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings 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 for the refiner goeth forth,
Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
6 Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
7 For better [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.
Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
8 Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
Quæ viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
9 Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
10 Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not 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 the soul of his masters he refresheth.
Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
14 Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
15 By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
16 Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
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 against his neighbour a false testimony.
Iaculum, 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 Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, 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 thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
22 For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
23 A north wind bringeth 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 nuncius 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, iustus cadens coram impio.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, 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.
