Proverbiorum 24
1 ne aemuleris viros malos nec desideres esse cum eis
Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
2 quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur
Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
3 sapientia aedificabitur domus et prudentia roborabitur
By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
4 in doctrina replebuntur cellaria universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima
By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
5 vir sapiens et fortis est et vir doctus robustus et validus
A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
6 quia cum dispositione initur bellum et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt
Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
7 excelsa stulto sapientia in porta non aperiet os suum
Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
8 qui cogitat malefacere stultus vocabitur
He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
9 cogitatio stulti peccatum est et abominatio hominum detractor
The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
10 si desperaveris lassus in die angustiae inminuetur fortitudo tua
If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
11 erue eos qui ducuntur ad mortem et qui trahuntur ad interitum liberare ne cesses
Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
12 si dixeris vires non suppetunt qui inspector est cordis ipse intellegit et servatorem animae tuae nihil fallit reddetque homini iuxta opera sua
If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.
13 comede fili mi mel quia bonum est et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo
Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
14 sic et doctrina sapientiae animae tuae quam cum inveneris habebis in novissimis et spes tua non peribit
So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
15 ne insidieris et quaeras impietatem in domo iusti neque vastes requiem eius
Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 septies enim cadet iustus et resurget impii autem corruent in malum
For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
17 cum ceciderit inimicus tuus ne gaudeas et in ruina eius ne exultet cor tuum
When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
18 ne forte videat Dominus et displiceat ei et auferat ab eo iram suam
Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 ne contendas cum pessimis nec aemuleris impios
Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali et lucerna impiorum extinguetur
For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 time Dominum fili mi et regem et cum detractoribus non commiscearis
My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum et ruinam utriusque quis novit
For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
23 haec quoque sapientibus cognoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum
These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
24 qui dicit impio iustus es maledicent ei populi et detestabuntur eum tribus
They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
25 qui arguunt laudabuntur et super ipsos veniet benedictio
They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 labia deosculabitur qui recta verba respondet
He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
27 praepara foris opus tuum et diligenter exerce agrum tuum ut postea aedifices domum tuam
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
28 ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis
Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
29 ne dicas quomodo fecit mihi sic faciam ei reddam unicuique secundum opus suum
Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
30 per agrum hominis pigri transivi et per vineam viri stulti
I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
31 et ecce totum repleverant urticae operuerant superficiem eius spinae et maceria lapidum destructa erat
And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 quod cum vidissem posui in corde meo et exemplo didici disciplinam
Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
33 parum inquam dormies modicum dormitabis pauxillum manus conseres ut quiescas
Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
34 et veniet quasi cursor egestas tua et mendicitas quasi vir armatus
And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
