Liber Ecclesiasticus, 21
1. Fili, peccasti? Non adicias iterum, sed et de pristinis deprecare, ut tibi dimittantur.
1. There is a reproof which is not timely; and there is a man who keeps silent but is wise.
2. Quasi a facie colubri fuge peccata: et, si accesseris ad illa, mordebunt te.
2. How much better it is to reprove than to stay angry! And the one who confesses his fault will be kept from loss.
3. Dentes leonis dentes eorum interficientes animas hominum.
3.
4. Quasi romphaea bis acuta omnis iniquitas: plagae illius non est sanitas.
4. Like a eunuch's desire to violate a maiden is a man who executes judgments by violence.
5. Terror et iniuriae annullabunt substantiam, et domus, quae nimis locuples est, annullabitur superbia; sic substantia superbi eradicabitur.
5. There is one who by keeping silent is found wise, while another is detested for being too talkative.
6. Deprecatio pauperis ex ore usque ad aures Dei perveniet, et iudicium festinato adveniet illi.
6. There is one who keeps silent because he has no answer, while another keeps silent because he knows when to speak.
7. Qui odit correptionem, in vestigio est peccatoris; et, qui timet Deum, convertet illam ad cor suum.
7. A wise man will be silent until the right moment, but a braggart and fool goes beyond the right moment.
8. Notus a longe potens lingua audaci, et sensatus novit illum labi.
8. Whoever uses too many words will be loathed, and whoever usurps the right to speak will be hated.
9. Qui aedificat domum suam impendiis alienis, quasi qui colligit lapides suos in hiemem.
9. There may be good fortune for a man in adversity, and a windfall may result in a loss.
10. Stuppa collecta synagoga peccantium, et consummatio illorum flamma ignis.
10. There is a gift that profits you nothing, and there is a gift that brings a double return.
11. Via peccantium complanata lapidibus, et in fine illius fovea inferi.
11. There are losses because of glory, and there are men who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.
12. Qui custodit legem, continebit sensum suum;
12. There is a man who buys much for a little, but pays for it seven times over.
13. consummatio timoris Dei sapientia et sensus.
13. The wise man makes himself beloved through his words, but the courtesies of fools are wasted.
14. Non erudietur, qui non est prudens;
14. A fool's gift will profit you nothing, for he has many eyes instead of one.
15. est autem astutia, quae abundat in malo, et non est sensus, ubi est amaritudo.
15. He gives little and upbraids much, he opens his mouth like a herald; today he lends and tomorrow he asks it back; such a one is a hateful man.
16. Scientia sapientis tamquam inundatio abundabit, et consilium illius sicut fons vitae permanet.
16. A fool will say, "I have no friend, and there is no gratitude for my good deeds; those who eat my bread speak unkindly."
17. Cor fatui quasi vas confractum et omnem sapientiam non tenebit.
17. How many will ridicule him, and how often!
18. Verbum sapiens, quodcumque audierit scius, laudabit et ad illud adiciet; audivit luxuriosus, et displicebit illi et proiciet illud post dorsum suum.
18. A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue; so the downfall of the wicked will occur speedily.
19. Narratio fatui quasi sarcina in via, sed in labiis sensati invenietur gratia.
19. An ungracious man is like a story told at the wrong time, which is continually on the lips of the ignorant.
20. Os prudentis quaeretur in ecclesia, et verba illius cogitabunt in cordibus suis.
20. A proverb from a fool's lips will be rejected, for he does not tell it at its proper time.
21. Tamquam domus exterminata sic fatuo sapientia; et scientia insensati inenarrabilia verba.
21. A man may be prevented from sinning by his poverty, so when he rests he feels no remorse.
22. Compedes in pedibus stulto doctrina et quasi vincula manuum super manum dexteram.
22. A man may lose his life through shame, or lose it because of his foolish look.
23. Fatuus in risu exaltat vocem suam; vir autem sapiens vix tacite ridebit.
23. A man may for shame make promises to a friend, and needlessly make him an enemy.
24. Tamquam ornamentum aureum prudenti doctrina et quasi brachiale in brachio dextro.
24. A lie is an ugly blot on a man; it is continually on the lips of the ignorant.
25. Pes fatui facilis in domum proximi, sed homo peritus verebitur personam.
25. A thief is preferable to a habitual liar, but the lot of both is ruin.
26. Stultus a fenestra respiciet in domum, vir autem eruditus foris stabit.
26. The disposition of a liar brings disgrace, and his shame is ever with him.
27. Ineruditio hominis auscultare per ostium, et prudenti gravis contumelia.
27. He who speaks wisely will advance himself, and a sensible man will please great men.
28. Labia imprudentium stulta narrabunt, verba autem prudentium statera ponderabuntur.
28. Whoever cultivates the soil will heap up his harvest, and whoever pleases great men will atone for injustice.
29. In ore fatuorum cor illorum, et in corde sapientium os illorum.
29. Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise; like a muzzle on the mouth they avert reproofs.
30. Dum maledicit impius adversarium, maledicit ipse animam suam.
30. Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure, what advantage is there in either of them?
31. Susurro coinquinabit animam suam et in omnibus odietur; et, qui cum eo manserit, odiosus erit: tacitus et sensatus honorabitur.
31. Better is the man who hides his folly than the man who hides his wisdom.
