Liber Proverbiorum, 24
1. Ne aemuleris viros malos nec desideres esse cum eis,
1. Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;
2. quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum, et perniciem labia eorum loquuntur.
2. for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief.
3. Sapientia aedificabitur domus, et prudentia roborabitur.
3. By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
4. In doctrina replebuntur cellaria, universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.
4. by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5. Vir sapiens fortis est, et vir doctus firmat robur.
5. A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than he who has strength;
6. Quia cum dispositione parabis tibi bellum, et erit salus, ubi multa consilia sunt.
6. for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7. Excelsa stulto sapientia, in porta non aperiet os suum.
7. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8. Qui cogitat mala facere, vir perniciosus vocabitur.
8. He who plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker.
9. Cogitatio stulti peccatum est, et abominatio hominum detractor.
9. The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10. Si fueris lassus in die angustiae, coartabitur fortitudo tua.
10. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
11. Erue eos, qui ducuntur ad mortem; et, qui trahuntur ad interitum, retine.
11. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12. Si dixeris: “Nesciebamus hoc”; nonne qui ponderator est cordis, ipse intellegit, et servatorem animae tuae nihil fallit reddetque homini iuxta opera sua?
12. If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not requite man according to his work?
13. Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo.
13. My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14. Sic, scito, est sapientia animae tuae; quam cum inveneris, erit tibi posteritas, et spes tua non peribit.
14. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
15. Ne insidieris, o nequam, domui iusti neque vastes requiem eius.
15. Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do not violence to his home;
16. Septies enim cadet iustus et resurget; impii autem corruent in malum.
16. for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17. Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus, ne gaudeas, et in ruina eius ne exsultet cor tuum,
17. Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18. ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei et auferat ab eo iram suam.
18. lest the LORD see it, and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
19. Ne succendas ira in pessimos nec aemuleris impios,
19. Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked;
20. quoniam non erit posteritas maligno, et lucerna impiorum exstinguetur.
20. for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21. Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem et cum nova sectantibus non commiscearis,
21. My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not disobey either of them;
22. quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum, et ruinam utriusque quis novit?
22. for disaster from them will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
23. Haec quoque sapientibus: Dignoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum.
23. These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.
24. Qui dicit impio: “Iustus es”, maledicent ei populi, et detestabuntur eum tribus.
24. He who says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations;
25. Qui vero arguunt eum, laudabuntur, et super ipsos veniet benedictio boni.
25. but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will be upon them.
26. Labia deosculatur, qui recta verba respondet.
26. He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
27. Praepara foris opus tuum et diligenter exerce illud in agro tuo, ut postea aedifices domum tuam.
27. Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house.
28. Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum nec decipias quemquam labiis tuis.
28. Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29. Ne dicas: “Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei, reddam viro secundum opus suum”.
29. Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done."
30. Per agrum hominis pigri transivi et per vineam viri sensu carentis:
30. I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man without sense;
31. et ecce totum repleverant urticae, et operuerant superficiem eius spinae, et maceria lapidum destructa erat;
31. and lo, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32. quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo, vidi, didici disciplinam:
32. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
33. “Parum dormies, modicum dormitabis, pauxillum manus conseres, ut quiescas,
33. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34. et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas, et mendicitas quasi vir armatus”.
34. and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
