Liber Ecclesiasticus, 32

1. rectorem te posuerunt noli extolli esto in illis quasi unus ex ipsis

1. Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

2. curam illorum habe et sic conside et omni cura tua explicita recumbe

2. Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place :

3. ut læteris propter illos et ornamentum gratiæ accipias coronam et dignationem consequaris conrogationis

3. That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

4. loquere major natu decet enim te

4. Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

5. primum verbum diligenti scientiam et non inpedias musica

5. To speak the first word with care knowledge, and hinder not music.

6. ubi auditus est non effundas sermonem et inportune noli extolli in sapientia tua

6. Where there is no hearing, pour out words, and be not lifted up out season with thy wisdom.

7. gemmula carbunculi in ornamento auri et conparatio musicorum in convivio vini

7. 7A concert of music in a banquet wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

8. sicut in fabricatione auri signum est zmaragdi sic numerus musicorum in jucundo et moderato vino

8. As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

9. audi tacens et pro reverentia accedet tibi bona gratia

9. Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

10. adulescens loquere in tua causa vix

10. Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

11. si bis interrogatus fueris habeat caput responsum tuum

11. If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

12. in multis esto quasi inscius et audi tacens simul et quærens

12. In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.

13. in medio magnatorum non præsumas et ubi sunt senes non multum loquaris

13. In the company of great men bake not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

14. ante grandinem præibit coruscatio et pro reverentia accedet tibi bona gratia

14. Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

15. et hora surgendi non te trices præcurre autem prior in domum tuam et illic avocare et illic lude

15. And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

16. et age conceptiones tuas et non in delictis et verbo superbo

16. And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

17. et super his omnibus benedicito Dominum qui fecit te et inebriantem te ab omnibus bonis suis

17. And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

18. qui timet Deum excipiet doctrinam ejus et qui vigilaverint ad illum invenient benedictionem

18. He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

19. qui quærit legem replebitur ab ea et qui insidiose agit scandalizabitur in ea

19. He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

20. qui timent Dominum invenient judicium justum et justitias quasi lucem accendent

20. They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

21. peccator homo devitabit correptionem et secundum voluntatem suam inveniet conparationem

21. A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

22. vir consilii non disperiet intellegentia alienus et superbus non pertimescit timorem

22. A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

23. etiam postquam fecit cum eo sine consilio et suis insectationibus arguetur

23. Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

24. fili sine consilio nihil facias et post factum non pæniteberis

24. My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

25. in via ruinæ non eas et non offendes in lapides ne credas te viæ laboriosæ ne ponas animæ tuæ scandalum

25. Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones; trust not thyself to a rugged may, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.

26. et a filiis tuis cave et a domesticis tuis adtende

26. And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

27. in omni opere crede ex fide animæ tuæ hæc est enim conservatio mandatorum

27. In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

28. qui credit Deo adtendit mandatis et qui confident in illo non minorabuntur

28. He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.