Proverbiorum 20
1 Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum; purus sum a peccato?
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem: Dominus fecit utrumque.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
