Liber Proverbiorum, 30

1. verba Congregantis filii Vomentis visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus et qui Deo secum morante confortatus ait

1. The words of Gatherer the son of Vomiter. The vision which the man spoke with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God, abiding with him, said:

2. stultissimus sum virorum et sapientia hominum non est mecum

2. I am the most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with me.

3. non didici sapientiam et non novi sanctorum scientiam

3. I have not learned wisdom, and have not known the science of saints.

4. quis ascendit in cælum atque descendit quis continuit spiritum manibus suis quis conligavit aquas quasi in vestimento quis suscitavit omnes terminos terræ quod nomen ejus et quod nomen filii ejus si nosti

4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath held the wind in his hands? who hath bound up the waters together as in a garment? who hath raised up all the borders of the earth? what is his name, and what is the name of his son, if thou knowest?

5. omnis sermo Dei ignitus clypeus est sperantibus in se

5. Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that hope in him.

6. ne addas quicquam verbis illius et arguaris inveniarisque mendax

6. Add not any thing to his words, lest thou be reproved, and found a liar:

7. duo rogavi te ne deneges mihi antequam moriar

7. Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I die.

8. vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi tribue tantum victui meo necessaria

8. Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me neither beggary, nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life:

9. ne forte saturatus inliciar ad negandum et dicam quis est Dominus et egestate conpulsus furer et pejerem nomen Dei mei

9. Lest perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny, and say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty, I should steal, and forswear the name of my God.

10. ne accuses servum ad dominum suum ne forte maledicat tibi et corruas

10. Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou fall.

11. generatio quæ patri suo maledicit et quæ non benedicit matri suæ

11. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12. generatio quæ sibi munda videtur et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis

12. A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.

13. generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi et palpebræ ejus in alta subrectæ

13. A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up on high.

14. generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet et commandit molaribus suis ut comedat inopes de terra et pauperes ex hominibus

14. A generation, that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from among men.

15. sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ dicentes adfer adfer tria sunt insaturabilia et quartum quod numquam dicit sufficit

15. The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: It is enough.

16. infernus et os vulvæ et terra quæ non satiatur aqua ignis vero numquam dicit sufficit

16. Hell, and the mouth of the womb, and the earth which is not satisfied with water: and the fire never saith: It is enough.

17. oculum qui subsannat patrem et qui despicit partum matris suæ effodiant corvi de torrentibus et comedant illum filii aquilæ

17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and that despiseth the labour of his mother in bearing him, let the ravens of the brooks pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.

18. tria sunt difficilia mihi et quartum penitus ignoro

18. Three things are hard to me, and the fourth I am utterly ignorant of.

19. viam aquilæ in cælo viam colubri super petram viam navis in medio mari et viam viri in adulescentula

19. 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 in youth.

20. talis est via mulieris adulteræ quæ comedit et tergens os suum dicit non sum operata malum

20. Such is also the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith: I have done no evil.

21. per tria movetur terra et quartum non potest sustinere

21. By three things the earth is disturbed, and the fourth it cannot bear:

22. per servum cum regnaverit per stultum cum saturatus fuerit cibo

22. By a slave when he reigneth: by a fool when he is filled with meat:

23. per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit adsumpta et per ancillam cum heres fuerit dominæ suæ

23. By an odious woman when she is married: and by a bondwoman when she is heir to her mistress.

24. quattuor sunt minima terræ et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus

24. There are four very little things of the earth, and they are wiser than the wise:

25. formicæ populus infirmus quæ præparant in messe cibum sibi

25. The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the harvest:

26. lepusculus plebs invalida quæ conlocat in petra cubile suum

26. The rabbit, a weak people, which maketh its bed in the rock:

27. regem lucusta non habet et egreditur universa per turmas

27. The locust hath no king, yet they all go out by their bands.

28. stilio manibus nititur et moratur in ædibus regis

28. The stellio supporteth itself on hands, and dwelleth in kings' houses.

29. tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur et quartum quod incedit feliciter

29. There are three things, which go well, and the fourth that walketh happily:

30. leo fortissimus bestiarum ad nullius pavebit occursum

30. A lion, the strongest of beasts, who hath no fear of any thing he meeteth:

31. gallus succinctus lumbos et aries nec est rex qui resistat ei

31. A cock girded about the loins: and a ram: and a king, whom none can resist.

32. et qui stultus apparuit postquam elatus est in sublime si enim intellexisset ori inposuisset manum

32. There is that hath appeared a fool after he was lifted up on high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his mouth.

33. qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum et qui vehementer emungitur elicit sanguinem et qui provocat iras producit discordias

33. And he that strongly squeezeth the papa to bring out milk, straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth out blood: and he that provoketh wrath bringeth forth strife.