< Proverbiorum 30 >

1 Verba Congregantis, filii Vomentis. Visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum morante confortatus, ait:
Words of a Gatherer, son of an obedient one, the declaration, an affirmation of the man: — I have wearied myself [for] God, I have wearied myself [for] God, and am consumed.
2 Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.
For I am more brutish than any one, And have not the understanding of a man.
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
Nor have I learned wisdom, Yet the knowledge of Holy Ones I know.
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 went up to heaven, and cometh down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound waters in a garment? Who established all ends of the earth? What [is] His name? and what His son's name? Surely thou knowest!
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus: clypeus est sperantibus in se.
Every saying of God [is] tried, A shield He [is] to those trusting in Him.
6 Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax.
Add not to His words, lest He reason with thee, And thou hast been found false.
7 Duo rogavi te: ne deneges mihi antequam moriar:
Two things I have asked from Thee, Withhold not from me before I die.
8 vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me; mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi: tribue tantum victui meo necessaria,
Vanity and a lying word put far from me, Poverty or wealth give not to me, Cause me to eat the bread of my portion,
9 ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam: Quis est Dominus? aut egestate compulsus, furer, et perjurem nomen Dei mei.
Lest I become satiated, and have denied, And have said, 'Who [is] Jehovah?' And lest I be poor, and have stolen, And have laid hold of the name of my God.
10 Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.
Accuse not a servant unto his lord, Lest he disesteem thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit;
A generation [is], that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless.
12 generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis;
A generation — pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed.
13 generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ;
A generation — how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up.
14 generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus.
A generation — swords [are] their teeth, And knives — their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from [among] men.
15 Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes: Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod numquam dicit: Sufficit.
To the leech [are] two daughters, 'Give, give, Lo, three things are not satisfied, Four have not said 'Sufficiency;'
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol, and a restrained womb, Earth — it [is] not satisfied [with] water, And fire — it hath not said, 'Sufficiency,' (Sheol h7585)
17 Oculum qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suæ, effodiant eum corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilæ!
An eye that mocketh at a father, And despiseth to obey a mother, Dig it out do ravens of the valley, And eat it do young eagles.
18 Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro:
Three things have been too wonderful for me, Yea, four that I have not known:
19 viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia.
The way of the eagle in the heavens, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the heart of the sea, And the way of a man in youth.
20 Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum.
So — the way of an adulterous woman, She hath eaten and hath wiped her mouth, And hath said, 'I have not done iniquity.'
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere:
For three things hath earth been troubled, And for four — it is not able to bear:
22 per servum, cum regnaverit; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo;
For a servant when he reigneth, And a fool when he is satisfied with bread,
23 per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta; et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ.
For a hated one when she ruleth, And a maid-servant when she succeedeth her mistress.
24 Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus:
Four [are] little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:
25 formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi;
The ants [are] a people not strong, And they prepare in summer their food,
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum;
Conies [are] a people not strong, And they place in a rock their house,
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas;
A king there is not to the locust, And it goeth out — each one shouting,
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
A spider with two hands taketh hold, And is in the palaces of a king.
29 Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter:
Three there are going well, Yea, four are good in going:
30 leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum;
An old lion — mighty among beasts, That turneth not back from the face of any,
31 gallus succinctus lumbos; et aries; nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
A girt one of the loins, or a he-goat, And a king — no rising up with him.
32 Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.
If thou hast been foolish in lifting up thyself, And if thou hast devised evil — hand to mouth!
33 Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum; et qui vehementer emungit elicit sanguinem; et qui provocat iras producit discordias.
For the churning of milk bringeth out butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth out blood, And the forcing of anger bringeth out strife!

< Proverbiorum 30 >