Proverbiorum 24
1 [Ne æmuleris viros malos, nec desideres esse cum eis:
Do not be envious of those who are evil, nor desire to associate with them,
2 quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum, et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur.
because their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about trouble.
3 Sapientia ædificabitur domus, et prudentia roborabitur.
Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established.
4 In doctrina replebuntur cellaria, universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.
By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Vir sapiens fortis est, et vir doctus robustus et validus:
A warrior of wisdom is strong, and a man of knowledge increases his strength;
6 quia cum dispositione initur bellum, et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt.
for by wise direction you can wage your war and with many advisors there is victory.
7 Excelsa stulto sapientia; in porta non aperiet os suum.
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Qui cogitat mala facere stultus vocabitur:
There is one who plans to do evil— people call him a master of schemes.
9 cogitatio stulti peccatum est, et abominatio hominum detractor.
A foolish plan is sin and men despise a mocker.
10 Si desperaveris lassus in die angustiæ, imminuetur fortitudo tua.]
If you become weak with fear in the day of trouble, then your strength is small.
11 [Erue eos qui ducuntur ad mortem, et qui trahuntur ad interitum, liberare ne cesses.
Rescue those who are being taken away to death and hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
12 Si dixeris: Vires non suppetunt; qui inspector est cordis ipse intelligit: et servatorem animæ tuæ nihil fallit, reddetque homini juxta opera sua.
If you say, “Behold, we knew nothing about this,” does not the one who weighs the heart understand what you are saying? The one who guards your life, does he not know it? Will God not give to each one what he deserves?
13 Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est, et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo.
My son, eat honey because it is good, because the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Sic et doctrina sapientiæ animæ tuæ: quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem, et spes tua non peribit.
Such is wisdom for your soul— if you find it, there will be a future and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Ne insidieris, et quæras impietatem in domo justi, neque vastes requiem ejus.
Do not lie in wait like the wicked person who attacks the house of the righteous person. Do not destroy his home!
16 Septies enim cadet justus, et resurget: impii autem corruent in malum.
For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again, but wicked people are brought down by calamity.
17 Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus ne gaudeas, et in ruina ejus ne exsultet cor tuum:
Do not celebrate when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei, et auferat ab eo iram suam.
or Yahweh will see and disapprove and turn away his wrath from him.
19 Ne contendas cum pessimis, nec æmuleris impios:
Do not worry because of evildoers, and do not envy wicked people,
20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali, et lucerna impiorum extinguetur.
for the evil person has no future and the lamp of wicked people will go out.
21 Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem, et cum detractoribus non commiscearis:
Fear Yahweh, and fear the king, my son; do not associate with those who rebel against them,
22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum, et ruinam utriusque quis novit?]
for suddenly their disaster will come and who knows the extent of the destruction that will come from both of them?
23 Hæc quoque sapientibus. [Cognoscere personam in judicio non est bonum.
These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging a case at law is not good.
24 Qui dicunt impio: Justus es: maledicent eis populi, et detestabuntur eos tribus.
Whoever says to the wicked person, “You are a righteous person,” will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
25 Qui arguunt eum laudabuntur, et super ipsos veniet benedictio.
But those who discipline the wicked will have delight and gifts of goodness will come to them.
26 Labia deosculabitur qui recta verba respondet.
The one who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Præpara foris opus tuum, et diligenter exerce agrum tuum, ut postea ædifices domum tuam.
Prepare your outdoor work, and make everything ready for yourself in the field; after that, build your house.
28 Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum, nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis.
Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Ne dicas: Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei; reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.]
Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me; I will pay him back for what he has done.”
30 [Per agrum hominis pigri transivi, et per vineam viri stulti:
I went by the field of a lazy man, past the vineyard of the man having no sense.
31 et ecce totum repleverant urticæ, et operuerant superficiem ejus spinæ, et maceria lapidum destructa erat.
Thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo, et exemplo didici disciplinam.
Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
33 Parum, inquam, dormies, modicum dormitabis; pauxillum manus conseres ut quiescas:
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas, et mendicitas quasi vir armatus.]
and poverty comes marching upon you, and your needs like an armed soldier.
