Proverbiorum 20
1 Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
3 Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.
A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.
8 Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum; purus sum a peccato?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem: Dominus fecit utrumque.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] for strangers.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou war,
19 Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
A man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the [threshing] wheel over them.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of the belly.
28 Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes [reach] the innermost parts of the belly.
