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.

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?

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ab inimicis tuis separare, et ab amicis tuis attende.

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

True friendship, sure protection and rare treasure found;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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;

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stolam gloriæ indues eam, et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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