Proverbi 18
1 Chi si separa dagli altri cerca la propria soddisfazione e s’arrabbia contro tutto ciò ch’è profittevole.
Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
2 Lo stolto prende piacere, non nella prudenza, ma soltanto nel manifestare ciò che ha nel cuore.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Quando viene l’empio, viene anche lo sprezzo; e, con la vergogna, viene l’obbrobrio.
Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
4 Le parole della bocca d’un uomo sono acque profonde; la fonte di sapienza è un rivo che scorre perenne.
What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
5 Non è bene aver per l’empio de’ riguardi personali, per far torto al giusto nel giudizio.
It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
6 Le labbra dello stolto menano alle liti, e la sua bocca chiama le percosse.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 La bocca dello stolto è la sua rovina, e le sue labbra sono un laccio per l’anima sua.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 Le parole del maldicente son come ghiottonerie, e penetrano fino nell’intimo delle viscere.
[People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
9 Anche colui ch’è infingardo nel suo lavoro è fratello del dissipatore.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Il nome dell’Eterno è una forte torre; il giusto vi corre, e vi trova un alto rifugio.
Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
11 I beni del ricco son la sua città forte; son come un’alta muraglia… nella sua immaginazione.
Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
12 Prima della rovina, il cuor dell’uomo s’innalza, ma l’umiltà precede la gloria.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Chi risponde prima d’aver ascoltato, mostra la sua follia, e rimane confuso.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 Lo spirito dell’uomo lo sostiene quand’egli è infermo; ma lo spirito abbattuto chi lo solleverà?
A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
15 Il cuore dell’uomo intelligente acquista la scienza, e l’orecchio dei savi la cerca.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 I regali che uno fa gli apron la strada e gli dànno adito ai grandi.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 Il primo a perorare la propria causa par che abbia ragione; ma vien l’altra parte, e scruta quello a fondo.
The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
18 La sorte fa cessare le liti e decide fra i grandi.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 Un fratello offeso è più inespugnabile d’una città forte; e le liti tra fratelli son come le sbarre d’un castello.
If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
20 Col frutto della sua bocca l’uomo sazia il corpo; si sazia col provento delle sue labbra.
People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
21 Morte e vita sono in potere della lingua; chi l’ama ne mangerà i frutti.
What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
22 Chi ha trovato moglie ha trovato un bene e ha ottenuto un favore dall’Eterno.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 Il povero parla supplicando, il ricco risponde con durezza.
[It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
24 Chi ha molti amici li ha per sua disgrazia; ma v’è tale amico, ch’è più affezionato d’un fratello.
There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
