Proverbs 25
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Juda.
2 God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
[Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
3 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.
Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
4 Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum.
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur justitia thronus ejus.
6 Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
7 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,
Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc, quam ut humilieris coram principe.]
8 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?
[Quæ viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in jurgio cito, ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
9 Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
10 otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
11 Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
12 Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem.
13 Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum: animam ipsius requiescere facit.
14 Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus et promissa non complens.
15 If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.]
16 If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
[Mel invenisti: comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
17 Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
18 Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
Jaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
19 Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
20 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.
et amittit pallium in die frigoris. Acetum in nitro, qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo. Sicut tinea vestimento, et vermis ligno, ita tristitia viri nocet cordi.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum; si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
22 This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.
23 In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
24 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
Melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi.
25 Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua.
26 Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta, justus cadens coram impio.
27 It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum, sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria.
28 Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.]
