Liber Ecclesiasticus, 10

1. Iudex sapiens instituet populum suum, et principatus sensati stabilis erit.

1. Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom, and do not teach her an evil lesson to your own hurt.

2. Secundum iudicem populi sic et ministri eius, et qualis rector est civitatis, tales et inhabitantes in ea.

2. Do not give yourself to a woman so that she gains mastery over your strength.

3. Rex insipiens perdet populum suum, et civitates inhabitabuntur per sensum potentium.

3. Do not go to meet a loose woman, lest you fall into her snares.

4. In manu Dei potestas terrae, et utilem rectorem suscitabit in tempus super illam.

4. Do not associate with a woman singer, lest you be caught in her intrigues.

5. In manu Dei prosperitas hominis, et super faciem scribae imponet honorem suum.

5. Do not look intently at a virgin, lest you stumble and incur penalties for her.

6. Pro omni iniuria proximi ne rependas et nihil agas in operibus superbiae.

6. Do not give yourself to harlots lest you lose your inheritance.

7. Odibilis coram Deo est et hominibus superbia, et utrisque execrabilis omnis vexatio.

7. Do not look around in the streets of a city, nor wander about in its deserted sections.

8. Regnum a gente in gentem transfertur propter iniustitias et contumelias et divitias dolosas.

8. Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman, and do not look intently at beauty belonging to another; many have been misled by a woman's beauty, and by it passion is kindled like a fire.

9. Avaro autem nihil est scelestius, hic enim et animam suam venalem habet.

9. Never dine with another man's wife, nor revel with her at wine; lest your heart turn aside to her, and in blood you be plunged into destruction.

10. Quid superbit terra et cinis? Quoniam in vita sua proiecit intima sua.

10. Forsake not an old friend, for a new one does not compare with him. A new friend is like new wine; when it has aged you will drink it with pleasure.

11. Languor prolixior gravat medicum, brevis languor serenat medicum.

11. Do not envy the honors of a sinner, for you do not know what his end will be.

12. Omnis potentatus brevis vita, sic et rex hodie est et cras morietur.

12. Do not delight in what pleases the ungodly; remember that they will not be held guiltless as long as they live.

13. Cum enim morietur homo, hereditabit serpentes et bestias et vermes.

13. Keep far from a man who has the power to kill, and you will not be worried by the fear of death. But if you approach him, make no misstep, lest he rob you of your life. Know that you are walking in the midst of snares, and that you are going about on the city battlements.

14. Initium superbiae hominis apostatare a Deo;

14. As much as you can, aim to know your neighbors, and consult with the wise.

15. et ab eo, qui fecit illum, recessit cor eius. Quoniam initium omnis peccati est superbia, qui tenuerit illam, ebulliet maledictum, et subvertet eum in finem.

15. Let your conversation be with men of understanding, and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High.

16. Propterea mirabiles fecit Dominus plagas malorum et destruxit eos usque in finem.

16. Let righteous men be your dinner companions, and let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord.

17. Sedes ducum superborum destruxit Deus et sedere fecit mites pro eis.

17. A work will be praised for the skill of the craftsmen; so a people's leader is proved wise by his words.

18. Radices gentium superbarum eradicavit Deus et plantavit humiles pro ipsis.

18. A babbler is feared in his city, and the man who is reckless in speech will be hated.

19. Terras gentium evertit Dominus et perdidit eas usque ad fundamentum.

19.

20. Arefecit ex ipsis et disperdidit eos et cessare fecit memoriam eorum a terra.

20.

21. Memoriam superborum perdidit Deus et reliquit memoriam humilium sensu.

21.

22. Non est creata hominibus superbia, neque iracundia nato mulierum.

22.

23. Semen hominum honoratum hoc, quod timet Deum; semen autem hoc exhonorabitur, quod praeterit mandata Domini.

23.

24. In medio fratrum rector illorum in honore; et, qui timent Dominum, erunt in oculis illius.

24.

25. Peregrinus, advena et pauper: timor Dei est gloria eorum.

25.

26. Noli despicere hominem iustum pauperem et noli magnificare virum peccatorem divitem.

26.

27. Magnus et iudex et potens est in honore, sed non est maior illo, qui timet Deum.

27.

28. Servo sensato liberi servient; et vir prudens et disciplinatus non murmurabit correptus.

28.

29. Noli extollere te in faciendo opere tuo et noli gloriari in tempore angustiae tuae.

29.

30. Melior est, qui operatur et abundat in omnibus, quam qui gloriatur et eget pane.

30.

31. Fili, in mansuetudine honora animam tuam et da illi victum cultumque secundum meritum suum.

31.

32. Peccantem in animam suam quis iustificabit? Et quis honorificabit exhonorantem animam suam?

32.

33. Est pauper, qui honoratur propter disciplinam et timorem suum, et est homo, qui honorificatur propter substantiam suam.

33.

34. Qui autem honoratur in paupertate, quanto magis in substantia! Et, qui exhonoratur in substantia, quanto magis in paupertate!

34.