Proverbiorum 20
1 Luxuriosa res, vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur, non erit sapiens.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum, peccat in animam suam.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
3 Honor est homini, qui separat se a contentionibus: omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit: mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri: sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur: virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Iustus, qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, beatos post se filios derelinquet.
The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 Rex, qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum, purus sum a peccato?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera eius.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem, Dominus fecit utrumque.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor: et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
It is nil, it is nil, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 Est aurum, et multitudo gemmarum: et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Tolle vestimentum eius, qui fideiussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
Take his garment that is guarantor for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii: et postea implebitur os eius calculo.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur: et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 Ei, qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo, et matri, extinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris.
Whoso curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 Hereditas, ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
An inheritance may be got hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: expecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus: statera dolosa non est bona.
Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
Man's activities are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Misericordia, et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus eius.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne supported by mercy.
29 Exultatio iuvenum, fortitudo eorum: et dignitas senum canities.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala: et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.
The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
