Proverbiorum 25
1 Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Juda.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
3 Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum.
Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur justitia thronus ejus.
Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc, quam ut humilieris coram principe.
For better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
8 Quæ viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in jurgio cito, ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem.
As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive ear.
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 harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.
14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus et promissa non complens.
As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Mel invenisti: comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
18 Jaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
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.
As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum; si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
24 Melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25 Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua.
As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
26 Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta, justus cadens coram impio.
As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum, sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria.
To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
