Proverbiorum 18
1 Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ, nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde ejus.
A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
3 Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit; sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.
With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
4 Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri, et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.
Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate judicii.
Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 Labia stulti miscent se rixis, et os ejus jurgia provocat.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
7 Os stulti contritio ejus, et labia ipsius ruina animæ ejus.
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
8 Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum dejicit timor; animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo frater est sua opera dissipantis.
He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
10 Turris fortissima nomen Domini; ad ipsum currit justus, et exaltabitur.
A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
11 Substantia divitis urbs roboris ejus, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis, et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14 Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam; spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?
The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 Cor prudens possidebit scientiam, et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.
The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Donum hominis dilatat viam ejus, et ante principes spatium ei facit.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 Justus prior est accusator sui: venit amicus ejus, et investigabit eum.
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque dijudicat.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
19 Frater qui adjuvatur a fratre quasi civitas firma, et judicia quasi vectes urbium.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 De fructu oris viri replebitur venter ejus, et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Mors et vita in manu linguæ; qui diligunt eam comedent fructus ejus.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22 Qui invenit mulierem bonam invenit bonum, et hauriet jucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam expellit bonum; qui autem tenet adulteram stultus est et impius.
[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23 Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper, et dives effabitur rigide.
[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
24 Vir amabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
