Proverbiorum 24
1 Ne aemuleris viros malos, nec desideres esse cum eis:
Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum, et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur.
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Sapientia aedificabitur domus, et prudentia roborabitur.
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 In doctrina replebuntur cellaria, universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Vir sapiens, fortis est: et vir doctus, robustus et validus.
A wise man [is] strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 Quia cum dispositione initur bellum: et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt.
For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.
7 Excelsa stulto sapientia, in porta non aperiet os suum.
Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 Qui cogitat mala facere, stultus vocabitur.
He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 Cogitatio stulti peccatum est: et abominatio hominum detractor.
The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men.
10 Si desperaveris lapsus in die angustiae: imminuetur fortitudo tua.
[If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.
11 Erue eos, qui ducuntur ad mortem: et qui trahuntur ad interitum liberare ne cesses.
If thou forbear to deliver [them that are] drawn unto death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;
12 Si dixeris: Vires non suppetunt: qui inspector est cordis, ipse intelligit, et servatorem animae tuae nihil fallit, reddetque homini iuxta opera sua.
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? and shall [not] he render to [every] man according to his works?
13 Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est, et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo:
My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:
14 Sic et doctrina sapientiae animae tuae: quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem, et spes tua non peribit.
So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Ne insidieris, et quaeras impietatem in domo iusti, neque vastes requiem eius.
Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 Septies enim in die cadit iustus, et resurgit: impii autem corruent in malum.
For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus, ne gaudeas, et in ruina eius ne exultet cor tuum:
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei, et auferat ab eo iram suam.
Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Ne contendas cum pessimis, nec aemuleris impios:
Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali, et lucerna impiorum extinguetur.
For there shall be no reward to the evil [man; ] the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem: et cum detractoribus non commiscearis:
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum: et ruinam utriusque quis novit?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 Haec quoque sapientibus dico: Cognoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum.
These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Qui dicunt impio: Iustus es: maledicent eis populi, et detestabuntur eos tribus.
He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 Qui arguunt eum, laudabuntur: et super ipsos veniet benedictio.
But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 Labia deosculabitur, qui recta verba respondet.
[Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Praepara foris opus tuum, et diligenter exerce agrum tuum: et postea aedifices domum tuam.
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum: nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis.
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.
29 Ne dicas: Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei: reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 Per agrum hominis pigri transivi, et per vineam viri stulti:
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 et ecce totum repleverant urticae, et operuerant superficiem eius spinae, et maceria lapidum destructa erat.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo, et exemplo didici disciplinam.
Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction.
33 Usquequo piger dormies? usquequo de somno consurgens? Parum, inquam, dormies, modicum dormitabis, pauxillum manus conseres, ut quiescas:
[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas, et mendicitas quasi vir armatus.
So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
