Proverbiorum 20
1 luxuriosa res vinum et tumultuosa ebrietas quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens
Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 sicut rugitus leonis ita terror regis qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 propter frigus piger arare noluit mendicabit ergo aestate et non dabitur ei
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 sicut aqua profunda sic consilium in corde viri sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
6 multi homines misericordes vocantur virum autem fidelem quis inveniet
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 iustus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
8 rex qui sedet in solio iudicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo
A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 quis potest dicere mundum est cor meum purus sum a peccato
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 pondus et pondus mensura et mensura utrumque abominabile est apud Deum
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 ex studiis suis intellegitur puer si munda et si recta sint opera eius
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 aurem audientem et oculum videntem Dominus fecit utrumque
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
13 noli diligere somnum ne te egestas opprimat aperi oculos tuos et saturare panibus
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
14 malum est malum est dicit omnis emptor et cum recesserit tunc gloriabitur
Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 est aurum et multitudo gemmarum vas autem pretiosum labia scientiae
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
16 tolle vestimentum eius qui fideiussor extitit alieni et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo
Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 suavis est homini panis mendacii et postea implebitur os eius calculo
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 cogitationes consiliis roborantur et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 ei qui revelat mysteria et ambulat fraudulenter et dilatat labia sua ne commiscearis
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 qui maledicit patri suo et matri extinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 hereditas ad quam festinatur in principio in novissimo benedictione carebit
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 ne dicas reddam malum expecta Dominum et liberabit te
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 abominatio est apud Deum pondus et pondus statera dolosa non est bona
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 a Domino diriguntur gressus viri quis autem hominum intellegere potest viam suam
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
25 ruina est hominis devorare sanctos et post vota tractare
It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 dissipat impios rex sapiens et curvat super eos fornicem
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis quae investigat omnia secreta ventris
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem et roboratur clementia thronus eius
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
29 exultatio iuvenum fortitudo eorum et dignitas senum canities
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 livor vulneris absterget mala et plagae in secretioribus ventris
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
