Wouldst thou rather be thy neighbour’s enemy than his friend? Wouldst thou earn, by ill nature, an ill name, and be despised for such faults as these, envy and hypocrisy?

Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued.

Noli fieri pro amico inimicus proximo: improperium enim et contumeliam malus hæreditabit: et omnis peccator invidus et bilinguis.

Wilt thou toss thy head, bull-fashion, and glory in thy own strength? What if that strength should be brought down by thy own folly?

Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,

Non te extollas in cogitatione animæ tuæ velut taurus, ne forte elidatur virtus tua per stultitiam:

Then wilt thou be no better than some dry tree-stump out in the desert, its leaves withered, its hope of fruit all gone.

And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit, and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.

et folia tua comedat, et fructus tuos perdat, et relinquaris velut lignum aridum in eremo.

Ill nature brings a man to an ill end, the scorn of his enemies and a prey to iniquity.

For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.

Anima enim nequam disperdet qui se habet, et in gaudium inimicis dat illum, et deducet in sortem impiorum.

Gentleness of speech, how it wins friends everywhere, how it disarms its enemies! Never was a good man wanting for a gracious word.

A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.

Verbum dulce multiplicat amicos et mitigat inimicos, et lingua eucharis in bono homine abundat.

Be on good terms with all, but for thy trusted counsellor, choose one in a thousand.

Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.

Multi pacifici sint tibi: et consiliarius sit tibi unus de mille.

Tried friends be the friends thou makest; do not bestow thy confidence lightly;

If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.

Si possides amicum, in tentatione posside eum, et ne facile credas ei.

some men are but fair-weather friends, and will not stand the test of adversity.

For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.

Est enim amicus secundum tempus suum, et non permanebit in die tribulationis.

Some will veer from friend to foe, and lay bare old grudges, old quarrels, to reproach thee;

And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.

Et est amicus qui convertitur ad inimicitiam, et est amicus qui odium et rixam et convitia denudabit.

some will be thy boon companions, but desert thee when trouble is afoot.

And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.

Est autem amicus socius mensæ, et non permanebit in die necessitatis.

Fast and faithful friend there is, that will be even as thyself, and have thy servants at his beck and call;

A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.

Amicus si permanserit fixus, erit tibi quasi coæqualis, et in domesticis tuis fiducialiter aget.

let him behave modestly, and rid thee of his presence, and there shall be true and tried friendship between you.

If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.

Si humiliaverit se contra te, et a facie tua absconderit se, unanimem habebis amicitiam bonam.

From enemies thou mayst keep thy distance; against friends be on thy guard.

Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

Ab inimicis tuis separare, et ab amicis tuis attende.

True friendship, sure protection and rare treasure found;

A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.

Amicus fidelis protectio fortis: qui autem invenit illum, invenit thesaurum.

true friendship, a thing beyond compare, its tried loyalty outweighing gold and silver;

Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.

Amico fideli nulla est comparatio, et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti contra bonitatem fidei illius.

true friendship, elixir of life, and of life eternal! Only those who fear God will come by it;

A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.

Amicus fidelis medicamentum vitæ et immortalitatis: et qui metuunt Dominum, invenient illum.

the fear of God gives friendship evenly shared, friend matched with friend.

He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.

Qui timet Deum æque habebit amicitiam bonam, quoniam secundum illum erit amicus illius.

My son, learn the lessons of youth, and garner wisdom against thy grey hairs;

My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.

Fili, a juventute tua excipe doctrinam, et usque ad canos invenies sapientiam.

ploughman and sower thou must come to the task, and wait patiently for the harvest;

Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:

Quasi is qui arat et seminat accede ad eam, et sustine bonos fructus illius.

how light the toil wisdom claims, the fruits of her how soon enjoyed!

For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.

In opere enim ipsius exiguum laborabis, et cito edes de generationibus illius.

Only to undisciplined minds she seems an over-hard task-mistress; not for long will the fool endure her company;

How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.

Quam aspera est nimium sapientia indoctis hominibus! et non permanebit in illa excors.

here is a weight (says he) that tries my strength too much, and away he casts it.

She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.

Quasi lapidis virtus probatio erit in illis: et non demorabuntur projicere illam.

The enlightenment which comes with wisdom is true to its name; known to so few, yet where men are acquainted with it, it waits to light them into the presence of God.

For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.

Sapientia enim doctrinæ secundum nomen est ejus, et non est multis manifestata: quibus autem cognita est, permanet usque ad conspectum Dei.

My son, give good heed to the warnings of experience, do not spurn this counsel of mine.

Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.

Audi, fili, et accipe consilium intellectus, et ne abjicias consilium meum.

Yield foot of thine to wisdom’s fetters, neck of thine to her collar,

Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:

Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius, et in torques illius collum tuum.

shoulder of thine to her yoke; do not chafe at her bonds.

Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.

Subjice humerum tuum, et porta illam, et ne acedieris vinculis ejus.

Make her thy whole heart’s quest, follow, as best thou canst, the path she makes known to thee;

Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.

In omni animo tuo accede ad illam, et in omni virtute tua conserva vias ejus.

search, and thou wilt find her, hold fast, and never let her go;

Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:

Investiga illam, et manifestabitur tibi: et continens factus, ne derelinquas eam:

in good time, thou shalt repose in her, and find her all delight.

For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.

in novissimis enim invenies requiem in ea, et convertetur tibi in oblectationem.

In time, those fetters of hers shall prove a strong protection, a sure support, that halter of hers a badge of honour about thy neck;

Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:

Et erunt tibi compedes ejus in protectionem fortitudinis et bases virtutis, et torques illius in stolam gloriæ:

there is life in those trappings, healing virtue in those bonds.

For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.

decor enim vitæ est in illa, et vincula illius alligatura salutaris.

Robe is none shall do thee more honour, crown is none shall rest more radiant on thy brow.

Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.

Stolam gloriæ indues eam, et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi.

My son, mark well and learn, take heed and be wise;

My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.

Fili, si attenderis mihi, disces: et si accommodaveris animum tuum, sapiens eris.

here is true knowledge for the listening, here is wisdom if thou wilt lend an ear.

If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.

Si inclinaveris aurem tuam, excipies doctrinam: et si dilexeris audire, sapiens eris.

Where older men than thou are met, and wiser, take thou thy place, and give thy whole heart to their teaching; old tales of God’s wonders thou shalt hear, and sayings of much renown.

Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.

In multitudine presbyterorum prudentium sta, et sapientiæ illorum ex corde conjungere, ut omnem narrationem Dei possis audire, et proverbia laudis non effugiant a te.

A man of discernment if thou find, wait on him at day-break, and wear out his door-step with thy frequent visiting.

And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.

Et si videris sensatum, evigila ad eum, et gradus ostiorum illius exterat pes tuus.

Think ever upon God’s commandments, and be constant in the following of his will; be sure he will give thee perseverance, and all thy desire for wisdom shall be granted thee.

Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given to thee.

Cogitatum tuum habe in præceptis Dei, et in mandatis illius maxime assiduus esto: et ipse dabit tibi cor, et concupiscentia sapientiæ dabitur tibi.