Proverbiorum 25
1 haec quoque parabolae Salomonis quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiae regis Iuda
Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
2 gloria Dei celare verbum et gloria regum investigare sermonem
The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings 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 for the refiner goeth forth,
5 aufer impietatem de vultu regis et firmabitur iustitia thronus eius
Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6 ne gloriosus appareas coram rege et in loco magnorum ne steteris
Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
7 melius est enim ut dicatur tibi ascende huc quam ut humilieris coram principe
For better [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.
8 quae viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in iurgio cito ne postea emendare non possis cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum
Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9 causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo et secretum extraneo non reveles
Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit et exprobrare non cesset
Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not 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 the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14 nubes et ventus et pluviae non sequentes vir gloriosus et promissa non conplens
Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 patientia lenietur princeps et lingua mollis confringet duritiam
By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16 mel invenisti comede quod sufficit tibi ne forte saturatus evomas illud
Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17 subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui nequando satiatus oderit te
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
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 against his neighbour a false testimony.
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
Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, 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 thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22 prunam enim congregabis super caput eius et Dominus reddet tibi
For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23 ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias et facies tristis linguam detrahentem
A north wind bringeth 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 honour — honour.
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!
