Proverbiorum 25
1 haec 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 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 robiginem 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 non 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
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 oboedientem
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 illius 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 conplens
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 saturatus 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 testimonium falsum
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 lapsus 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 et qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo
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 et 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 prunam 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.
24 melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi
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 nuntius 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 opprimitur 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.
