Proverbiorum 25
1 Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Iuda.
Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
3 Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings — [are] unsearchable.
4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
For better [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.
8 Quæ viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem, et aurem obedientem.
A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13 Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16 Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
18 Iaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
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.
Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22 prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue — indignant faces.
24 Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi.
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25 Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuncius bonus de terra longinqua.
[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26 Fons turbatus pede, et vena corrupta, iustus cadens coram impio.
A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir, qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
