Proverbiorum 30
1 Verba Congregantis filii Vomentis. Visio, quam locutus est vir, cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum morante confortatus, ait:
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the burden. The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.
Surely I am brutish, unlike a man, and have not the understanding of a man;
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
And I have not learned wisdom, that I should have the knowledge of the Holy One.
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 hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus, clypeus est sperantibus in se:
Every word of God is tried; He is a shield unto them that take refuge in Him.
6 ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris inveniarisque mendax.
Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Duo rogavi te, ne deneges mihi antequam moriar.
Two things have I asked of Thee; deny me them not 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 falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with mine allotted bread;
9 ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam: Quis est Dominus? aut egestate compulsus furer, et periurem nomen Dei mei.
Lest I be full, and deny, and say: 'Who is the LORD?' Or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
10 Ne accuses servum ad Dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.
Slander not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 Generatio, quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit.
There is a generation that curse their father, and do not bless their mother.
12 Generatio, quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 Generatio, cuius excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ eius in alta surrectæ.
There is a generation, Oh how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14 Generatio, quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus.
There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their great teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes: Affer, Affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum, quod numquam dicit: Sufficit.
The horseleech hath two daughters: 'Give, give.' There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four that say not: 'Enough':
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra, quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. (Sheol h7585)
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that saith not: '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 mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young vultures shall eat it.
18 Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro:
There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19 Viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia.
The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a young woman.
20 Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum.
So is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith: 'I have done no wickedness.'
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere:
For three things the earth doth quake, and for four it cannot endure:
22 Per servum cum regnaverit: per stultum cum saturatus fuerit cibo:
For a servant when he reigneth; and a churl when he is filled with food;
23 per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta: et per ancillam cum fuerit heres dominæ suæ.
For an odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus.
There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 Formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi:
The ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum:
The rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the crags;
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas:
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
The spider thou canst take with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces.
29 Tria sunt, quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum, quod incedit feliciter:
There are three things which are stately in their march, yea, four which are stately in going:
30 Leo fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum:
The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31 gallus succinctus lumbos: et aries: nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
The greyhound; the he-goat also; and the king, against whom there is no rising up.
32 Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime: si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast planned devices, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.
33 Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac, exprimit butyrum: et qui vehementer emungit, elicit sanguinem: et qui provocat iras, producit discordias.
For the churning of milk bringeth forth curd, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
