Proverbiorum 24
1 Ne æmuleris viros malos, nec desideres esse cum eis:
Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
2 quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum, et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur.
for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Sapientia ædificabitur domus, et prudentia roborabitur.
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 In doctrina replebuntur cellaria, universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Vir sapiens, fortis est: et vir doctus, robustus et validus.
A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6 Quia cum dispositione initur bellum: et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt.
for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
7 Excelsa stulto sapientia, in porta non aperiet os suum.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
8 Qui cogitat mala facere, stultus vocabitur.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 Cogitatio stulti peccatum est: et abominatio hominum detractor.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 Si desperaveris lassus in die angustiæ: imminuetur fortitudo tua.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Erue eos, qui ducuntur ad mortem: et qui trahuntur ad interitum liberare ne cesses.
Rescue those who are being led away to death. Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
12 Si dixeris: Vires non suppetunt: qui inspector est cordis, ipse intelligit, et servatorem animæ tuæ nihil fallit, reddetque homini iuxta opera sua.
If you say, "Look, we did not know this;" doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est, et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo:
My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste.
14 Sic et doctrina sapientiæ animæ tuæ: quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem, et spes tua non peribit.
Likewise, know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Ne insidieris, et quæras impietatem in domo iusti, neque vastes requiem eius.
Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.
16 Septies enim cadet iustus, et resurget: impii autem corruent in malum.
For the righteous may fall seven times, but gets up again, but the wicked will stumble in adversity.
17 Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus, ne gaudeas, et in ruina eius ne exultet cor tuum:
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18 ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei, et auferat ab eo iram suam.
lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Ne contendas cum pessimis, nec æmuleris impios:
Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali, et lucerna impiorum extinguetur.
for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
21 Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem: et cum detractoribus non commiscearis:
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:
22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum: et ruinam utriusque quis novit?
for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
23 Hæc quoque sapientibus: Cognoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum.
These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Qui dicunt impio: Iustus es: maledicent eis populi, et detestabuntur eos tribus.
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
25 Qui arguunt eum, laudabuntur: et super ipsos veniet benedictio.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Labia deosculabitur, qui recta verba respondet.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Præpara foris opus tuum, et diligenter exerce agrum tuum: ut postea ædifices domum tuam.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum: nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis.
Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips.
29 Ne dicas: Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei: reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.
Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
30 Per agrum hominis pigri transivi, et per vineam viri stulti:
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 et ecce totum repleverant urticæ, et operuerant superficiem eius spinæ, et maceria lapidum destructa erat.
Look, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo, et exemplo didici disciplinam.
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 Parum, inquam, dormies, modicum dormitabis, pauxillum manus conseres, ut quiescas:
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
34 et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas, et mendicitas quasi vir armatus.
so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
