Proverbiorum 25
1 haec quoque parabolae Salomonis quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiae regis Iuda
These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
2 gloria Dei celare verbum et gloria regum investigare sermonem
The glory of God [is] to hide a thing, And the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.
3 caelum sursum et terra deorsum et cor regum inscrutabile
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
4 aufer robiginem de argento et egredietur vas purissimum
Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
5 aufer impietatem de vultu regis et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius
Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
6 ne gloriosus appareas coram rege et in loco magnorum ne steteris
Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
7 melius est enim ut dicatur tibi ascende huc quam ut humilieris coram principe
For better [that] he has said to you, “Come up here,” Than [that] he humbles you before a noble, Whom your eyes have seen.
8 quae viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in iurgio cito ne postea emendare non possis cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum
Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
9 causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo et secretum extraneo non reveles
Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit et exprobrare non cesset
Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
11 mala aurea in lectis argenteis qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo
Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12 inauris aurea et margaritum fulgens qui arguit sapientem et aurem oboedientem
A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13 sicut frigus nivis in die messis ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum animam illius requiescere facit
As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 nubes et ventus et pluviae non sequentes vir gloriosus et promissa non conplens
Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 patientia lenietur princeps et lingua mollis confringet duritiam
A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
16 mel invenisti comede quod sufficit tibi ne forte saturatus evomas illud
You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
17 subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui nequando satiatus oderit te
Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
18 iaculum et gladius et sagitta acuta homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum testimonium falsum
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
19 dens putridus et pes lapsus qui sperat super infideli in die angustiae
A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
20 et amittit pallium in die frigoris acetum in nitro et qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo
Whoever is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on natron, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21 si esurierit inimicus tuus ciba illum et si sitierit da ei aquam bibere
If he who is hating you hungers, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirsts, cause him to drink water.
22 prunam enim congregabis super caput eius et Dominus reddet tibi
For you are putting coals on his head, And YHWH gives repayment to you.
23 ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias et facies tristis linguam detrahentem
A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
24 melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25 aqua frigida animae sitienti et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua
[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26 fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta iustus cadens coram impio
A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27 sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur gloria
The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
28 sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum
A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
