Proverbiorum 25
1 Hae quoque parabolae Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiae regis Iuda.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 Caelum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
8 Quae viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem, et aurem obedientem.
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
13 Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviae non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 Iaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiae,
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20 et amittit pallium in die frigoris. Acetum in nitro, qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo. Sicut tinea vestimento, et vermis ligno: ita tristitia viri nocet cordi.
Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 Aqua frigida animae sitienti, et nuncius bonus de terra longinqua.
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26 Fons turbatus pede, et vena corrupta, iustus cadens coram impio.
Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir, qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
