Proverbiorum 25
1 Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Juda.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum.
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur justitia thronus ejus.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc, quam ut humilieris coram principe.
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 Quæ viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in jurgio cito, ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem.
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum: animam ipsius requiescere facit.
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus et promissa non complens.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 Mel invenisti: comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 Jaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
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.
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum; si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 Melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta, justus cadens coram impio.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum, sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
