Proverbiorum 20
1 Luxuriosa res, vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur, non erit sapiens.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum, peccat in animam suam.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 Honor est homini, qui separat se a contentionibus: omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit: mendicabit ergo aestate, et non dabitur illi.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri: sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur: virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Iustus, qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, beatos post se filios derelinquet.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 Rex, qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum, purus sum a peccato?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera eius.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem, Dominus fecit utrumque.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor: et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Est aurum, et multitudo gemmarum: vas autem pretiosum labia scientiae.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Tolle vestimentum eius, qui fideiussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii: et postea implebitur os eius calculo.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur: et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Ei, qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo, et matri, extinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.
21 Hereditas, ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: expecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus: statera dolosa non est bona.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
25 Ruina est homini devotare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quae investigat omnia secreta ventris.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Misericordia, et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus eius.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 Exultatio iuvenum, fortitudo eorum: et dignitas senum canities.
The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala: et plagae in secretioribus ventris.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
