Sapiens mulier ædificat domum suam; insipiens exstructam quoque manibus destruet.

A WISE woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built.

It is by woman’s wisdom a home thrives; a foolish wife pulls it down about her ears.

Ambulans recto itinere, et timens Deum, despicitur ab eo qui infami graditur via.

He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, is despised by him that goeth by an infamous way.

Does a man fear the Lord? He holds an even course; the knave has little regard for him.

In ore stulti virga superbiæ; labia autem sapientium custodiunt eos.

In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the wise preserve them.

Pride burgeons from the lips of fools; in modesty of speech the wise find safety.

Ubi non sunt boves, præsepe vacuum est; ubi autem plurimæ segetes, ibi manifesta est fortitudo bovis.

Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest.

No need for a full crib, where oxen are none; yet ever rich harvest tells of the ox at work.

Testis fidelis non mentitur; profert autem mendacium dolosus testis.

A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth a lie.

It is a faithful witness that never lies; the perjurer breathes out lies continually.

Quærit derisor sapientiam, et non invenit; doctrina prudentium facilis.

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.

Vainly the rash aspire to wisdom; the discerning come by their knowledge with little pains.

Vade contra virum stultum, et nescit labia prudentiæ.

Go against a foolish man, and he knoweth not the lips of prudence.

Go thy way, and let the fool go his; good sense is a strange language to him.

Sapientia callidi est intelligere viam suam, et imprudentia stultorum errans.

The wisdom of a discreet man is to understand his way: and the imprudence of fools erreth.

Prudence picks its way wisely; the fool blunders and is lost.

Stultus illudet peccatum, et inter justos morabitur gratia.

A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide.

Fools make light of the guilt that needs atonement, and leave honest men to enjoy the Lord’s favour.

Cor quod novit amaritudinem animæ suæ, in gaudio ejus non miscebitur extraneus.

The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not intermeddle.

Heart’s bitterness none may know but the heart that feels it; no prying stranger can tell when it finds relief.

Domus impiorum delebitur: tabernacula vero justorum germinabunt.

The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles of the just shall flourish.

Fall it must, the house of the wicked; where the upright dwell, all is increase.

Est via quæ videtur homini justa, novissima autem ejus deducunt ad mortem.

There is a way which seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof lead to death.

The right road in a man’s thinking may be one whose goal is death.

Risus dolore miscebitur, et extrema gaudii luctus occupat.

Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning taketh hold of the end of joy.

Joy blends with grief, and laughter marches with tears.

Viis suis replebitur stultus, et super eum erit vir bonus.

A fool shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall be above him.

The incorrigible shall have a taste of his own ill-doings, and honest men shall have the better of him.

Innocens credit omni verbo; astutus considerat gressus suos. Filio doloso nihil erit boni; servo autem sapienti prosperi erunt actus, et dirigetur via ejus.

The innocent believeth every word: the discreet man considereth his steps. No good shall come to the deceitful son: but the wise servant shall prosper in his dealings, and his way shall be made straight.

The simpleton takes all on trust; wisdom considers each step. (A treacherous son no part shall have; better shall a wise servant thrive and prosper. )

Sapiens timet, et declinat a malo; stultus transilit, et confidit.

A wise man feareth and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth over and is confident.

Caution teaches the wise to shun danger; the fool is carried away by rash confidence.

Impatiens operabitur stultitiam, et vir versutus odiosus est.

The impatient man shall work folly: and the crafty man is hateful.

The impatient man blunders, as surely as the schemer makes enemies.

Possidebunt parvuli stultitiam, et exspectabunt astuti scientiam.

The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent shall look for knowledge.

Folly is the simpleton’s heirloom; skill crowns the wise.

Jacebunt mali ante bonos, et impii ante portas justorum.

The evil shall fall down before the good: and the wicked before the gates of the just.

Vice lies prostrate before virtue, the sinner at the gates of the just.

Etiam proximo suo pauper odiosus erit: amici vero divitum multi.

The poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: but the friends of the rich are many.

Of the beggar, his own neighbours grow weary; wealth never lacks friends.

Qui despicit proximum suum peccat; qui autem miseretur pauperis beatus erit. Qui credit in Domino misericordiam diligit.

He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.

Shame on the man who holds his neighbour in contempt; mercy to the poor brings a blessing. (Mercy he loves, who puts his trust in the Lord. )

Errant qui operantur malum; misericordia et veritas præparant bona.

They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good things.

They follow a false path, that plot mischief; mercy and faithfulness mercy and faith shall find.

In omni opere erit abundantia; ubi autem verba sunt plurima, ibi frequenter egestas.

In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is oftentimes want.

Hard work is sure wealth; of chattering comes only poverty.

Corona sapientium divitiæ eorum; fatuitas stultorum imprudentia.

The crown of the wise is their riches: the folly of fools, imprudence.

Made rich, the wise are crowned, the folly of the thoughtless will be folly yet.

Liberat animas testis fidelis, et profert mendacia versipellis.

A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer uttereth lies.

Men owe their lives to truthful witnesses; the very breath of the perjurer is treason.

In timore Domini fiducia fortitudinis, et filiis ejus erit spes.

In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there shall be hope for his children.

The fear of the Lord gives strong confidence, bequeaths hope from the father to the children.

Timor Domini fons vitæ, ut declinent a ruina mortis.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to decline from the ruin of death.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain where men may drink life, far removed from all mortal peril.

In multitudine populi dignitas regis, et in paucitate plebis ignominia principis.

In the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in the small number of people the dishonour of the prince.

Great people, great king; it is for want of men crowns are lost.

Qui patiens est multa gubernatur prudentia; qui autem impatiens est exaltat stultitiam suam.

He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth his folly.

Patience comes of sovereign prudence, impatience of unchecked folly.

Vita carnium sanitas cordis; putredo ossium invidia.

Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.

Peace of mind is health of body; more than all else, envy wastes the frame.

Qui calumniatur egentem exprobrat factori ejus; honorat autem eum qui miseretur pauperis.

He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his Maker: but he that hath pity on the poor, honoureth him.

He who oppresses the poor, insults man’s Maker; him if thou wouldst honour, take pity on human need.

In malitia sua expelletur impius: sperat autem justus in morte sua.

The wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the just hath hope in his death.

When the wicked is paid in his own coin, there is an end of him; at death’s door, the just still hope.

In corde prudentis requiescit sapientia, et indoctos quosque erudiet.

In the heart of the prudent resteth wisdom, and it shall instruct all the ignorant.

In the discerning heart, wisdom finds a resting-place; even among fools it can impart learning.

Justitia elevat gentem; miseros autem facit populos peccatum.

Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable.

Duty well done, a whole nation becomes great; suffer whole peoples for guilt incurred.

Acceptus est regi minister intelligens; iracundiam ejus inutilis sustinebit.

A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for nothing shall feel his anger.

A king shews favour to a wise servant; disappoint him, and thou shalt feel his anger.