Proverbiorum 25
1 Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Iuda.
THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.
2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.
3 Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.
4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.
5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.
6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.
7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
For it is better, that it be saide vnto thee, Come vp hither, then thou to be put lower in the presece of the prince whom thine eyes haue seene.
8 Quæ viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
Goe not foorth hastily to strife, least thou know not what to doe in the ende thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.
11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
A word spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.
12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem, et aurem obedientem.
He that reprooueth the wise, and the obedient eare, is as a golden earering and an ornament of fine golde.
13 Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
As the colde of the snowe in the time of haruest, so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soule of his masters.
14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.
15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.
16 Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.
17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 Iaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.
19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.
20 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.
Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy heart.
21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
If hee that hateth thee be hungry, giue him bread to eate, and if he be thirstie, giue him water to drinke.
22 prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.
23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.
24 Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuncius bonus de terra longinqua.
As are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.
26 Fons turbatus pede, et vena corrupta, iustus cadens coram impio.
A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.
27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.
28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir, qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.
