Proverbiorum 25
1 haec quoque parabolae Salomonis quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiae regis Iuda
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 gloria Dei celare verbum et gloria regum investigare sermonem
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 caelum sursum et terra deorsum et cor regum inscrutabile
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 aufer robiginem de argento et egredietur vas purissimum
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
5 aufer impietatem de vultu regis et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 ne gloriosus appareas coram rege et in loco magnorum ne steteris
Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
7 melius est enim ut dicatur tibi ascende huc quam ut humilieris coram principe
For better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
8 quae viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in iurgio cito ne postea emendare non possis cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo et secretum extraneo non reveles
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit et exprobrare non cesset
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 mala aurea in lectis argenteis qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
12 inauris aurea et margaritum fulgens qui arguit sapientem et aurem oboedientem
As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
13 sicut frigus nivis in die messis ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum animam illius requiescere facit
As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 nubes et ventus et pluviae non sequentes vir gloriosus et promissa non conplens
Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 patientia lenietur princeps et lingua mollis confringet duritiam
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 mel invenisti comede quod sufficit tibi ne forte saturatus evomas illud
Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui nequando satiatus oderit te
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
18 iaculum et gladius et sagitta acuta homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum testimonium falsum
A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
19 dens putridus et pes lapsus qui sperat super infideli in die angustiae
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
20 et amittit pallium in die frigoris acetum in nitro et qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo
[As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
21 si esurierit inimicus tuus ciba illum et si sitierit da ei aquam bibere
If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 prunam enim congregabis super caput eius et Dominus reddet tibi
For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias et facies tristis linguam detrahentem
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
24 melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi
It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 aqua frigida animae sitienti et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta iustus cadens coram impio
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur gloria
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
