Proverbiorum 18
1 Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2 Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ: nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde eius.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit: sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri: et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate iudicii.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Labia stulti miscent se rixis: et os eius iurgia provocat.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Os stulti contritio eius: et labia ipsius, ruina animæ eius.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Verba bilinguis, quasi simplicia: et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum deiicit timor: animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo, frater est sua opera dissipantis.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Turris fortissima, nomen Domini: ad ipsum currit iustus, et exaltabitur.
Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 Substantia divitis urbs roboris eius, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis: et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
13 Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam: spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Cor prudens possidebit scientiam: et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Donum hominis dilatat viam eius, et ante principes spatium ei facit.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Iustus, prior est accusator sui: venit amicus eius, et investigabit eum.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque diiudicat.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 Frater, qui adiuvatur a fratre, quasi civitas firma: et iudicia quasi vectes urbium.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 De fructu oris viri replebitur venter eius: et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Mors, et vita in manu linguæ: qui diligunt eam, comedent fructus eius.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Qui invenit mulierem bonam, invenit bonum: et hauriet iucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam, expellit bonum: qui autem tenet adulteram, stultus est et impius.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
23 Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper: et dives effabitur rigide.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 Vir amabilis ad societatem, magis amicus erit, quam frater.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
