Proverbiorum 20
1 [Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?]
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 [Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum; purus sum a peccato?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem: Dominus fecit utrumque.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.]
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 [Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
25 Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.]
It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 [Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.]
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
