Proverbiorum 30
1 Verba Congregantis, filii Vomentis. Visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum morante confortatus, ait:
The words of the Gatherer, the son of the Vomiter. The vision that the man spoke. God is with him, and he, being strengthened by God and abiding with him, said:
2 Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.
“I am the most foolish among men, and the wisdom of men is not with me.
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
I have not learned wisdom, and I have not known the knowledge of sanctity.
4 Quis ascendit in cælum, atque descendit? quis continuit spiritum in manibus suis? quis colligavit aquas quasi in vestimento? quis suscitavit omnes terminos terræ? quod nomen est ejus, et quod nomen filii ejus, si nosti?
Who has ascended to heaven and also descended? Who has grasped the wind in his hands? Who has tied the waters together, as with a garment? Who has raised all the limits of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son, if you know?
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus: clypeus est sperantibus in se.
Every word of God is fire-tested. He is a bronze shield to those who hope in him.
6 Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax.
Do not add anything to his words, lest you be reproved and be discovered to be a liar.
7 Duo rogavi te: ne deneges mihi antequam moriar:
Two things I have asked of you; do not deny them to me before I die.
8 vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me; mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi: tribue tantum victui meo necessaria,
Remove, far from me, vanity and lying words. Give me neither begging, nor wealth. Apportion to me only the necessities of my life,
9 ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam: Quis est Dominus? aut egestate compulsus, furer, et perjurem nomen Dei mei.
lest perhaps, being filled, I might be enticed into denial, and say: ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or, being compelled by destitution, I might steal, and then perjure myself in the name of my God.
10 Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.
Do not accuse a servant to his lord, lest he curse you, and you fall.
11 Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit;
There is a generation which curses their father, and which does not bless their mother.
12 generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis;
There is a generation which seems pure to themselves, and yet they are not even washed from their filthiness.
13 generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ;
There is a generation, whose eyes have been elevated, and their eyelids are lifted on high.
14 generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus.
There is a generation which has swords in place of teeth, and which commands their molars to devour the indigent from the earth and the poor from among men.
15 Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes: Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod numquam dicit: Sufficit.
The leech has two daughters, who say, ‘Bring, bring.’ Three things are insatiable, and a fourth never says ‘Enough’:
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. (Sheol h7585)
Hell, and the mouth of the womb, and a land that is not filled with water. And truly, fire never says, ‘Enough.’ (Sheol h7585)
17 Oculum qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suæ, effodiant eum corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilæ!
The eye of one who mocks his father and who despises the childbearing of his mother, let the ravens of the torrent tear it out, and let the sons of the eagles consume it.
18 Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro:
Three things are difficult for me, and about a fourth, I am nearly ignorant:
19 viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia.
the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man in adolescence.
20 Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum.
Such is the way also of an adulterous woman, who eats, and wiping her mouth, says: “I have done no evil.”
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere:
By three things, the earth is moved, and a fourth it is not able to sustain:
22 per servum, cum regnaverit; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo;
by a slave when he reigns, by the foolish when he has been filled with food,
23 per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta; et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ.
by a hateful woman when she has been taken in matrimony, and by a handmaid when she has been heir to her mistress.
24 Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus:
Four things are least upon the earth, and they are wiser than the wise:
25 formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi;
the ants, an infirm people who provide food for themselves at the harvest,
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum;
the rabbit, a sickened people who make their bed upon the rock.
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas;
The locust has no king, but they all depart by their troops.
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
The lizard supports itself on hands and dwells in the buildings of kings.
29 Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter:
There are three things that advance well, and a fourth that marches happily on:
30 leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum;
a lion, the strongest of beasts, who fears nothing that he meets,
31 gallus succinctus lumbos; et aries; nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
a rooster prepared at the loins, likewise a ram, and a king, whom none can resist.
32 Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.
There is one who has appeared foolish, after he was lifted up on high; for if he had understood, he would have placed his hand over his mouth.
33 Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum; et qui vehementer emungit elicit sanguinem; et qui provocat iras producit discordias.
But whoever strongly squeezes the udder to bring out the milk, presses out butter. And whoever violently blows his nose, brings out blood. And whoever provokes wrath, brings forth discord.”
