Proverbs 20

1Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise.

Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.

2As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.

Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.

3It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.

Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.

4Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.

Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.

5Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.

Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.

6Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?

Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?

7The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.

Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.

8The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.

Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.

9Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?

Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum; purus sum a peccato?

10Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.

Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.

11By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.

Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.

12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.

Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem: Dominus fecit utrumque.

13Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.

Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.

14It is naught, it is naught, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.

Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.

15There is gold and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.

Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.

16Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.

Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.

17The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.

18Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.

Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.

19Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.

Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.

20He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.

Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:

21The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.

hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.

22Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord, and he will deliver thee.

Ne dicas: Reddam malum: exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.

23Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.

Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.

24The steps of men are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?

A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?

25It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.

Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.

26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.

Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.

27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.

Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.

28Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.

Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.

29The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.

Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.

30The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.

Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.