Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
Quando sederis ut comedas cum principe, diligenter attende quæ apposita sunt ante faciem tuam:
2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
et statue cultrum in gutture tuo, si tamen habes in potestate animam tuam,
3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
ne desideres de cibis eius, in quo est panis mendacii.
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Noli laborare ut diteris: sed prudentiæ tuæ pone modum.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Ne erigas oculos tuos ad opes, quas non potes habere: quia facient sibi pennas quasi aquilæ, et volabunt in cælum.
6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
Ne comedas cum homine invido, et ne desideres cibos eius:
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
quoniam in similitudinem arioli, et coniectoris, æstimat quod ignorat. Comede et bibe, dicet tibi: et mens eius non est tecum.
8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Cibos, quos comederas, evomes: et perdes pulchros sermones tuos.
9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
In auribus insipientium ne loquaris: qui despicient doctrinam eloquii tui.
10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Ne attingas parvulorum terminos: et agrum pupillorum ne introeas:
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
Propinquus enim illorum fortis est: et ipse iudicabit contra te causam illorum.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Ingrediatur ad doctrinam cor tuum: et aures tuæ ad verba scientiæ.
13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Noli subtrahere a puero disciplinam: si enim percusseris eum virga, non morietur.
Tu virga percuties eum: et animam eius de inferno liberabis. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
Fili mi, si sapiens fuerit animus tuus, gaudebit tecum cor meum:
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
et exultabunt renes mei, cum locuta fuerint rectum labia tua.
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
Non æmuletur cor tuum peccatores: sed in timore Domini esto tota die:
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
quia habebis spem in novissimo, et præstolatio tua non auferetur.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
Audi fili mi, et esto sapiens: et dirige in via animum tuum.
20 Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
Noli esse in conviviis potatorum, nec in comessationibus eorum, qui carnes ad vescendum conferunt:
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
quia vacantes potibus, et dantes symbola consumentur, et vestietur pannis dormitatio.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Audi patrem tuum, qui genuit te: et ne contemnas cum senuerit mater tua.
23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Veritatem eme, et noli vendere sapientiam, et doctrinam, et intelligentiam.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Exultat gaudio pater iusti: qui sapientem genuit, lætabitur in eo.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
Gaudeat pater tuus, et mater tua, et exultet quæ genuit te.
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
Præbe fili mi cor tuum mihi: et oculi tui vias meas custodiant.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
Fovea enim profunda est meretrix: et puteus angustus, aliena.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
Insidiatur in via quasi latro, et quos incautos viderit, interficiet.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Cui væ? cuius patri væ? cui rixæ? cui foveæ? cui sine causa vulnera? cui suffusio oculorum?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Nonne his, qui commorantur in vino, et student calicibus epotandis?
31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
Ne intuearis vinum quando flavescit, cum splenduerit in vitro color eius: ingreditur blande,
32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
sed in novissimo mordebit ut coluber, et sicut regulus venena diffundet.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
Oculi tui videbunt extraneas, et cor tuum loquetur perversa.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
Et eris sicut dormiens in medio mari, et quasi sopitus gubernator, amisso clavo:
35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
et dices: Verberaverunt me, sed non dolui: traxerunt me, et ego non sensi: quando evigilabo, et rursus vina reperiam?
