< Proverbs 20 >

1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Luxuriosa res, vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur, non erit sapiens.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum, peccat in animam suam.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
Honor est homini, qui separat se a contentionibus: omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Propter frigus piger arare noluit: mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri: sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Multi homines misericordes vocantur: virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
Iustus, qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, beatos post se filios derelinquet.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Rex, qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum, purus sum a peccato?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera eius.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem, Dominus fecit utrumque.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor: et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
Est aurum, et multitudo gemmarum: et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Tolle vestimentum eius, qui fideiussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Suavis est homini panis mendacii: et postea implebitur os eius calculo.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Cogitationes consiliis roborantur: et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Ei, qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Qui maledicit patri suo, et matri, extinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
Hereditas, ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Ne dicas: Reddam malum: expecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus: statera dolosa non est bona.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Misericordia, et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus eius.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
Exultatio iuvenum, fortitudo eorum: et dignitas senum canities.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Livor vulneris absterget mala: et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.

< Proverbs 20 >