Proverbiorum 20
1 Luxuriosa res, vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur, non erit sapiens.
Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum, peccat in animam suam.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 Honor est homini, qui separat se a contentionibus: omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit: mendicabit ergo aestate, et non dabitur illi.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri: sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur: virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 Iustus, qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, beatos post se filios derelinquet.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
8 Rex, qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum, purus sum a peccato?
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera eius.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem, Dominus fecit utrumque.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor: et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 Est aurum, et multitudo gemmarum: vas autem pretiosum labia scientiae.
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
16 Tolle vestimentum eius, qui fideiussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii: et postea implebitur os eius calculo.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur: et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 Ei, qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo, et matri, extinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 Hereditas, ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: expecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus: statera dolosa non est bona.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
25 Ruina est homini devotare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quae investigat omnia secreta ventris.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Misericordia, et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus eius.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
29 Exultatio iuvenum, fortitudo eorum: et dignitas senum canities.
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala: et plagae in secretioribus ventris.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
