Proverbiorum 30
1 Verba Congregantis filii Vomentis. Visio, quam locutus est vir, cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum morante confortatus, ait:
These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.
2 Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.
For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.
4 Quis ascendit in cælum atque descendit? quis continuit spiritum in manibus suis? quis colligavit aquas quasi in vestimento? quis suscitavit omnes terminos terræ? quod nomen est eius, et quod nomen filii eius, si nosti?
Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus, clypeus est sperantibus in se:
For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.
6 ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris inveniarisque mendax.
Add not to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be made a liar.
7 Duo rogavi te, ne deneges mihi antequam moriar.
Two things I ask of you; take not favour from me before I die.
8 Vanitatem, et verba mendacia longe fac a me. Mendicitatem, et divitias ne dederis mihi: tribue tantum victui meo necessaria:
Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth [or] poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:
9 ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam: Quis est Dominus? aut egestate compulsus furer, et periurem nomen Dei mei.
lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear [vainly] by the name of God.
10 Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.
Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse you, and you be utterly destroyed.
11 Generatio, quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit.
A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.
12 Generatio, quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis.
A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.
13 Generatio, cuius excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ eius in alta surrectæ.
A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.
14 Generatio, quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus.
A wicked generation have swords [for] teeth and jaw teeth [as] knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from amongst men.
15 Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes: Affer, Affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum, quod numquam dicit: Sufficit.
The horse-leech had three dearly beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra, quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. (Sheol h7585)
The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough. (Sheol h7585)
17 Oculum, qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suæ, effodiant eum corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilæ.
The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.
18 Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro:
Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:
19 Viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia.
the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.
20 Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum.
Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere:
By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it can’t bear:
22 Per servum cum regnaverit: per stultum cum saturatus fuerit cibo:
if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;
23 per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta: et per ancillam cum fuerit heres dominæ suæ.
or if a maidservant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
24 Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus.
And [there are] four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:
25 Formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi:
the ants which are weak, and [yet] prepare [their] food in summer;
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum:
the rabbits also [are] a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas:
The locusts have no king, and [yet] march orderly at one command.
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
And the eft, which supports itself by [its] hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
29 Tria sunt, quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum, quod incedit feliciter:
And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.
30 Leo fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum:
A lion's whelp, stronger than [all other] beasts, which turns not away, nor fears [any] beast;
31 gallus succinctus lumbos: et aries: nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
and a cock walking in boldly amongst the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
32 Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime: si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.
If you abandon yourself to mirth, and stretch forth your hand in a quarrel, you shall be disgraced.
33 Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac, exprimit butyrum: et qui vehementer emungit, elicit sanguinem: et qui provocat iras, producit discordias.
Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if you wing [one's] nostrils there shall come out blood: so if you extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.
