Proverbiorum 25
1 haec 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 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 robiginem 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 non reveles
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit et exprobrare non cesset
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 oboedientem
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 illius 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 conplens
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 saturatus 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 testimonium falsum
[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 lapsus 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 et qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo
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 et si sitierit da ei aquam bibere
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 prunam 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.
24 melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi
[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 nuntius 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 opprimitur 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.
