Proverbiorum 24
1 ne aemuleris viros malos nec desideres esse cum eis
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
2 quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur
for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
3 sapientia aedificabitur domus et prudentia roborabitur
By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
4 in doctrina replebuntur cellaria universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima
through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
5 vir sapiens et fortis est et vir doctus robustus et validus
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
6 quia cum dispositione initur bellum et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt
Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
7 excelsa stulto sapientia in porta non aperiet os suum
Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
8 qui cogitat malefacere stultus vocabitur
He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 cogitatio stulti peccatum est et abominatio hominum detractor
A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
10 si desperaveris lassus in die angustiae inminuetur fortitudo tua
If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
11 erue eos qui ducuntur ad mortem et qui trahuntur ad interitum liberare ne cesses
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
12 si dixeris vires non suppetunt qui inspector est cordis ipse intellegit et servatorem animae tuae nihil fallit reddetque homini iuxta opera sua
If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
13 comede fili mi mel quia bonum est et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo
Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14 sic et doctrina sapientiae animae tuae quam cum inveneris habebis in novissimis et spes tua non peribit
Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
15 ne insidieris et quaeras impietatem in domo iusti neque vastes requiem eius
Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.
16 septies enim cadet iustus et resurget impii autem corruent in malum
For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
17 cum ceciderit inimicus tuus ne gaudeas et in ruina eius ne exultet cor tuum
Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 ne forte videat Dominus et displiceat ei et auferat ab eo iram suam
or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
19 ne contendas cum pessimis nec aemuleris impios
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali et lucerna impiorum extinguetur
For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
21 time Dominum fili mi et regem et cum detractoribus non commiscearis
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum et ruinam utriusque quis novit
For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
23 haec quoque sapientibus cognoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 qui dicit impio iustus es maledicent ei populi et detestabuntur eum tribus
Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”— peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
25 qui arguunt laudabuntur et super ipsos veniet benedictio
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
26 labia deosculabitur qui recta verba respondet
An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27 praepara foris opus tuum et diligenter exerce agrum tuum ut postea aedifices domum tuam
Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28 ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29 ne dicas quomodo fecit mihi sic faciam ei reddam unicuique secundum opus suum
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 per agrum hominis pigri transivi et per vineam viri stulti
I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
31 et ecce totum repleverant urticae operuerant superficiem eius spinae et maceria lapidum destructa erat
Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 quod cum vidissem posui in corde meo et exemplo didici disciplinam
I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
33 parum inquam dormies modicum dormitabis pauxillum manus conseres ut quiescas
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 et veniet quasi cursor egestas tua et mendicitas quasi vir armatus
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
