Proverbiorum 18
1 Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ: nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde eius.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit: sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri: et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5 Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate iudicii.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6 Labia stulti miscent se rixis: et os eius iurgia provocat.
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 Os stulti contritio eius: et labia ipsius, ruina animæ eius.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Verba bilinguis, quasi simplicia: et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum deiicit timor: animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.
The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo, frater est sua opera dissipantis.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10 Turris fortissima, nomen Domini: ad ipsum currit iustus, et exaltabitur.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 Substantia divitis urbs roboris eius, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis: et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam: spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?
The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 Cor prudens possidebit scientiam: et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.
A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 Donum hominis dilatat viam eius, et ante principes spatium ei facit.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17 Iustus, prior est accusator sui: venit amicus eius, et investigabit eum.
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque diiudicat.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
19 Frater, qui adiuvatur a fratre, quasi civitas firma: et iudicia quasi vectes urbium.
A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 De fructu oris viri replebitur venter eius: et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
21 Mors, et vita in manu linguæ: qui diligunt eam, comedent fructus eius.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Qui invenit mulierem bonam, invenit bonum: et hauriet iucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam, expellit bonum: qui autem tenet adulteram, stultus est et impius.
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper: et dives effabitur rigide.
The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 Vir amabilis ad societatem, magis amicus erit, quam frater.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
