< Proverbs 24 >

1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Ne æmuleris viros malos, nec desideres esse cum eis:
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum, et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur.
3 Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
Sapientia ædificabitur domus, et prudentia roborabitur.
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
In doctrina replebuntur cellaria, universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.
5 A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Vir sapiens, fortis est: et vir doctus, robustus et validus.
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Quia cum dispositione initur bellum: et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Excelsa stulto sapientia, in porta non aperiet os suum.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Qui cogitat mala facere, stultus vocabitur.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Cogitatio stulti peccatum est: et abominatio hominum detractor.
10 If thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Si desperaveris lassus in die angustiæ: imminuetur fortitudo tua.
11 If thou refraineth to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;
Erue eos, qui ducuntur ad mortem: et qui trahuntur ad interitum liberare ne cesses.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that weigheth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Si dixeris: Vires non suppetunt: qui inspector est cordis, ipse intelligit, et servatorem animæ tuæ nihil fallit, reddetque homini iuxta opera sua.
13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est, et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo:
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Sic et doctrina sapientiæ animæ tuæ: quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem, et spes tua non peribit.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy not his resting place:
Ne insidieris, et quæras impietatem in domo iusti, neque vastes requiem eius.
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Septies enim cadet iustus, et resurget: impii autem corruent in malum.
17 Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus, ne gaudeas, et in ruina eius ne exultet cor tuum:
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei, et auferat ab eo iram suam.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Ne contendas cum pessimis, nec æmuleris impios:
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali, et lucerna impiorum extinguetur.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem: et cum detractoribus non commiscearis:
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum: et ruinam utriusque quis novit?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Hæc quoque sapientibus: Cognoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum.
24 He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
Qui dicunt impio: Iustus es: maledicent eis populi, et detestabuntur eos tribus.
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Qui arguunt eum, laudabuntur: et super ipsos veniet benedictio.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
Labia deosculabitur, qui recta verba respondet.
27 Prepare thy work outside, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
Præpara foris opus tuum, et diligenter exerce agrum tuum: ut postea ædifices domum tuam.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum: nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Ne dicas: Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei: reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Per agrum hominis pigri transivi, et per vineam viri stulti:
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.
et ecce totum repleverant urticæ, et operuerant superficiem eius spinæ, et maceria lapidum destructa erat.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo, et exemplo didici disciplinam.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Parum, inquam, dormies, modicum dormitabis, pauxillum manus conseres, ut quiescas:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas, et mendicitas quasi vir armatus.

< Proverbs 24 >