Proverbiorum 25
1 Hae quoque parabolae Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiae regis Iuda.
These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
The glory of God [is] to hide a thing, And the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.
3 Caelum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum:
Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius.
Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc; quam ut humilieris coram principe.
For better [that] he has said to you, “Come up here,” Than [that] he humbles you before a noble, Whom your eyes have seen.
8 Quae viderunt oculi tui, ne proferas in iurgio cito: ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem, et aurem obedientem.
A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13 Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei, qui misit eum, animam ipsius requiescere facit.
As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviae non sequentes, vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens.
Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
16 Mel invenisti, comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
18 Iaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiae,
A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
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.
Whoever is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on natron, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
If he who is hating you hungers, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirsts, cause him to drink water.
22 prunas enim congregabis super caput eius, et Dominus reddet tibi.
For you are putting coals on his head, And YHWH gives repayment to you.
23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25 Aqua frigida animae sitienti, et nuncius bonus de terra longinqua.
[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26 Fons turbatus pede, et vena corrupta, iustus cadens coram impio.
A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit, non est ei bonum: sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir, qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
