Proverbiorum 25
1 Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Iuda.
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
For better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
8 Quæ viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem, et aurem obedientem.
As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
13 Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
18 Iaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
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.
[As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
24 Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi.
It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuncius bonus de terra longinqua.
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 Fons turbatus pede, et vena corrupta, iustus cadens coram impio.
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir, qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
