Proverbiorum 25
1 Hae quoque parabolae Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiae regis Iuda.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
3 Caelum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
8 Quae viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem, et aurem obedientem.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviae non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 Iaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiae,
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
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.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 Aqua frigida animae sitienti, et nuncius bonus de terra longinqua.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 Fons turbatus pede, et vena corrupta, iustus cadens coram impio.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir, qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
