Proverbs 18

1He that hath a mind to depart from a friend, seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.

Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.

2A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.

Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ, nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde ejus.

3The wicked man, when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.

Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit; sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.

4Words from the mouth of a man are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.

Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri, et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.

5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.

Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate judicii.

6The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.

Labia stulti miscent se rixis, et os ejus jurgia provocat.

7The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.

Os stulti contritio ejus, et labia ipsius ruina animæ ejus.

8The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.

Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum dejicit timor; animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.

9He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.

Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo frater est sua opera dissipantis.

10The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.

Turris fortissima nomen Domini; ad ipsum currit justus, et exaltabitur.

11The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.

Substantia divitis urbs roboris ejus, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.

12Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis, et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.

13He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.

14The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?

Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam; spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?

15A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.

Cor prudens possidebit scientiam, et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.

16A man’s gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes.

Donum hominis dilatat viam ejus, et ante principes spatium ei facit.

17The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

Justus prior est accusator sui: venit amicus ejus, et investigabit eum.

18The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.

Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque dijudicat.

19A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.

Frater qui adjuvatur a fratre quasi civitas firma, et judicia quasi vectes urbium.

20Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.

De fructu oris viri replebitur venter ejus, et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.

Mors et vita in manu linguæ; qui diligunt eam comedent fructus ejus.

22He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.

Qui invenit mulierem bonam invenit bonum, et hauriet jucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam expellit bonum; qui autem tenet adulteram stultus est et impius.

23The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.

Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper, et dives effabitur rigide.

24A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.

Vir amabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater.