Proverbiorum 20
1 Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
Wine [is] a scorner — strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
3 Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
7 Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
8 Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum; purus sum a peccato?
Who saith, 'I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem: Dominus fecit utrumque.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah 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 become poor, Open thine eyes — be satisfied [with] bread.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
'Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15 Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16 Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19 Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:
Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
21 hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Do not say, 'I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.
An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man — how understandeth he his way?
25 Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
29 Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.
The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
