Proverbiorum 24
1 Ne aemuleris viros malos, nec desideres esse cum eis:
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum, et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Sapientia aedificabitur domus, et prudentia roborabitur.
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 In doctrina replebuntur cellaria, universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.
By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 Vir sapiens, fortis est: et vir doctus, robustus et validus.
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 Quia cum dispositione initur bellum: et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Excelsa stulto sapientia, in porta non aperiet os suum.
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 Qui cogitat mala facere, stultus vocabitur.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 Cogitatio stulti peccatum est: et abominatio hominum detractor.
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 Si desperaveris lapsus in die angustiae: imminuetur fortitudo tua.
He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11 Erue eos, qui ducuntur ad mortem: et qui trahuntur ad interitum liberare ne cesses.
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
12 Si dixeris: Vires non suppetunt: qui inspector est cordis, ipse intelligit, et servatorem animae tuae nihil fallit, reddetque homini iuxta opera sua.
But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
13 Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est, et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo:
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
14 Sic et doctrina sapientiae animae tuae: quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem, et spes tua non peribit.
Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
15 Ne insidieris, et quaeras impietatem in domo iusti, neque vastes requiem eius.
Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
16 Septies enim in die cadit iustus, et resurgit: impii autem corruent in malum.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus, ne gaudeas, et in ruina eius ne exultet cor tuum:
If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei, et auferat ab eo iram suam.
For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
19 Ne contendas cum pessimis, nec aemuleris impios:
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali, et lucerna impiorum extinguetur.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem: et cum detractoribus non commiscearis:
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum: et ruinam utriusque quis novit?
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 Haec quoque sapientibus dico: Cognoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum.
And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement.
24 Qui dicunt impio: Iustus es: maledicent eis populi, et detestabuntur eos tribus.
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
25 Qui arguunt eum, laudabuntur: et super ipsos veniet benedictio.
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 Labia deosculabitur, qui recta verba respondet.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Praepara foris opus tuum, et diligenter exerce agrum tuum: et postea aedifices domum tuam.
Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
28 Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum: nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis.
Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
29 Ne dicas: Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei: reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.
Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
30 Per agrum hominis pigri transivi, et per vineam viri stulti:
A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 et ecce totum repleverant urticae, et operuerant superficiem eius spinae, et maceria lapidum destructa erat.
If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
32 Quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo, et exemplo didici disciplinam.
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 Usquequo piger dormies? usquequo de somno consurgens? Parum, inquam, dormies, modicum dormitabis, pauxillum manus conseres, ut quiescas:
[The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
34 et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas, et mendicitas quasi vir armatus.
But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
