Liber Proverbiorum, 30
1. Verba Agur filii Iaces ex Massa. Oraculum hominis ad Itiel, ad Itiel et Ucal.
1. The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ith'i-el, to Ith'i-el and Ucal:
2. Quoniam stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum;
2. Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.
3. et non didici sapientiam et scientiam sanctorum non novi.
3. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4. Quis ascendit in caelum atque descendit? Quis continuit spiritum in manibus suis? Quis colligavit aquas quasi in vestimento? Quis statuit omnes terminos terrae? Quod nomen est eius, et quod nomen filii eius, si nosti?
4. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!
5. Omnis sermo Dei probatus clipeus est sperantibus in eum.
5. Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6. Ne addas quidquam verbis illius: et arguaris inveniarisque mendax.
6. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
7. Duo rogavi te, ne deneges mihi, antequam moriar:
7. Two things I ask 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 victum demensum mihi,
8. Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9. ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum et dicam: “Quis est Dominus?” aut egestate compulsus furer et periurem nomen Dei mei.
9. lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
10. Ne calumnieris servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et puniaris.
10. Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11. Generatio, quae patri suo maledicit et quae matri suae non benedicit.
11. There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12. Generatio, quae sibi munda videtur et non est lota a sordibus suis.
12. There are those who are pure in their own eyes but are not cleansed of their filth.
13. Generatio, cuius oculi quam excelsi sunt, et palpebrae eius in alta surrectae!
13. There are those -- how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!
14. Generatio, quae pro dentibus gladios habet, et cultri molares eius, ut comedat inopes de terra et pauperes ex hominibus.
14. There are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among men.
15. Sanguisugae duae sunt filiae: “Affer, affer!”. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quattuor, quae numquam dicunt: “Sufficit!”:
15. The leech has two daughters; "Give, give," they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough":
16. infernus et venter sterilis, terra, quae non satiatur aqua, ignis, qui numquam dicit: “Sufficit!”.
16. Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire which never says, "Enough."
17. Oculum, qui subsannat patrem et qui despicit obsequium matris suae, effodiant eum corvi de torrente, et comedant eum filii aquilae.
17. The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.
18. Tria sunt nimis difficilia mihi, et quattuor penitus ignoro:
18. Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand:
19. viam aquilae in caelo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari et viam viri in adulescentula.
19. the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20. Talis est et via mulieris adulterae, quae comedit et tergens os suum dicit: “Non sum operata malum”.
20. This is the way of an adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong."
21. Per tria movetur terra, et quattuor non potest sustinere:
21. Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up:
22. per servum, cum regnaverit, per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo,
22. a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food;
23. per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta, et per ancillam, cum fuerit heres dominae suae.
23. an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.
24. Quattuor sunt minima terrae, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus:
24. Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:
25. formicae populus infirmus, quae praeparant in messe cibum sibi;
25. the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;
26. hyraces plebs invalida, qui collocant in petra cubile suum;
26. the badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
27. regem locusta non habet et egreditur universa per turmas suas;
27. the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank;
28. stellio manibus nititur et moratur in aedibus regis.
28. the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces.
29. Tria sunt, quae bene gradiuntur, et quattuor, quae incedunt feliciter:
29. Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride:
30. leo fortissimus bestiarum ad nullius pavebit occursum,
30. the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any;
31. gallus succinctus lumbos et aries et rex, qui secum habet exercitum.
31. the strutting cock, the he-goat, and a king striding before his people.
32. Si stultum te praebuisti, postquam elevatus es in sublime, et si considerasti, ori impone manum.
32. If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
33. Qui enim fortiter premit lac, exprimit butyrum, et, qui vehementer emungit nares, elicit sanguinem, et, qui provocat iras, producit discordias.
33. For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.
