Liber Proverbiorum, 20
1. Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa sicera; quicumque his delectatur, non erit sapiens.
1. Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2. Sicut rugitus leonis ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum, peccat in animam suam.
2. The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3. Honor est homini separari a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
3. It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
4. Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo aestate, et non dabitur illi.
4. The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5. Sicut aqua profunda consilium in corde viri, sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
5. The purpose in a man's mind is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6. Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
6. Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but a faithful man who can find?
7. Iustus, qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, beatos post se filios derelinquet.
7. A righteous man who walks in his integrity -- blessed are his sons after him!
8. Rex, qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
8. A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
9. Quis potest dicere: “Mundavi cor meum, purus sum a peccato”?
9. Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"?
10. Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura, utrumque abominabile est apud Dominum.
10. Diverse weights and diverse measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
11. Ex studiis suis intellegitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera eius.
11. Even a child makes himself known by his acts, whether what he does is pure and right.
12. Aurem audientem et oculum videntem, Dominus fecit utrumque.
12. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.
13. Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat; aperi oculos tuos et saturare panibus.
13. Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14. “Malum est, malum est!” dicit omnis emptor et, cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
14. "It is bad, it is bad," says the buyer; but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15. Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum et vas pretiosum labia scientiae.
15. There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16. Tolle vestimentum eius, quia fideiussor exstitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
16. Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.
17. Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os eius calculo.
17. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18. Cogitationes consiliis firmantur, et dispensationibus tractanda sunt bella.
18. Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
19. Ei, qui revelat mysteria et calumniatur et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
19. He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.
20. Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, exstinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris.
20. If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21. Hereditas, ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
21. An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning will in the end not be blessed.
22. Ne dicas: “Reddam malum”; exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
22. Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will help you.
23. Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona in oculis eius.
23. Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.
24. A Domino diriguntur gressus viri; quis autem hominum intellegere potest viam suam?
24. A man's steps are ordered by the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25. Laqueus est homini inconsulte dicere: “Sanctum!” et post vota retractare.
25. It is a snare for a man to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making his vows.
26. Ventilat impios rex sapiens et incurvat super eos rotam.
26. A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the wheel over them.
27. Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quae investigat omnia secreta ventris.
27. The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.
28. Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus eius.
28. Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness.
29. Ornamentum iuvenum fortitudo eorum, et honor senum canities.
29. The glory of young men is their strength, but the beauty of old men is their gray hair.
30. Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagae in secretioribus ventris.
30. Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.
