Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio quam domus plena victimis cum jurgio.

Better dry crust and gay heart, than a house where all is feasting and all is quarrelling.

Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.

Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres hæreditatem dividet.

Where sons are fools, slaves will be masters, and share the inheritance like heirs born.

A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.

Sicut igne probatur argentum et aurum camino, ita corda probat Dominus.

For silver and gold, furnace and crucible; men’s hearts are for the Lord’s assaying.

As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.

Malus obedit linguæ iniquæ, et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.

Ever ill-will gives heed to injurious talk, false faith listens to the slander.

The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.

Qui despicit pauperem exprobrat factori ejus, et qui ruina lætatur alterius non erit impunitus.

He who shews contempt to the poor, insults man’s Maker; at thy own peril thou wilt take delight in another’s ruin.

He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.

Corona senum filii filiorum, et gloria filiorum patres eorum.

Crown of old age, when a man sees his children’s children; pride of youth, when a man can boast of the fathers that begot him.

Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.

Non decent stultum verba composita, nec principem labium mentiens.

Solemn talk matches ill with folly, lying speech with royalty.

Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

Gemma gratissima exspectatio præstolantis; quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.

When a man has hope in view, like a jewel it shines before him; look where he will, his way lies clear.

The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

Qui celat delictum quærit amicitias; qui altero sermone repetit, separat fœderatos.

If good will be thy quest, hide the wrong done; gossip unknits the bond of friendship.

He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.

Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagæ apud stultum.

One word of warning in a prudent man’s ear does more than a hundred lashes given to a fool.

A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.

Semper jurgia quærit malus: angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.

Still the godless man will be for stirring up strife, till at last an angel visits him with no kindly message.

An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

Expedit magis ursæ occurrere raptis fœtibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.

Better meet the she-bear reft of her cubs, than a fool in his blind confidence.

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.

Qui reddit mala pro bonis, non recedet malum de domo ejus.

Evil shall still haunt his dwelling, that repays kindness with injury.

He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Qui dimittit aquam caput est jurgiorum, et antequam patiatur contumeliam judicium deserit.

Who began the quarrel? He who let loose the flood-gates of it; and before he can suffer injury, he stands aside from the debate.

The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.

Qui justificat impium, et qui condemnat justum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.

Misjudgement the Lord will never abide, whether the guilty go free, or the innocent are condemned.

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

Quid prodest stulto habere divitias, cum sapientiam emere non possit? Qui altum facit domum suam quærit ruinam, et qui evitat discere incidet in mala.

Little the fool’s wealth avails; he may not buy wisdom if he would. (Build high, and court thy ruin; despise learning, and thou shalt come to mischief. )

What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est, et frater in angustiis comprobatur.

He is thy friend, who is thy friend at all times; of a brother’s love there is no test like adversity.

He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.

Stultus homo plaudet manibus, cum spoponderit pro amico suo.

He is a fool, that lightly goes bail for his friend.

A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.

Qui meditatur discordias diligit rixas, et qui exaltat ostium quærit ruinam.

He loves a feud, that loves contention; build high, and court thy ruin.

He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.

Qui perversi cordis est non inveniet bonum, et qui vertit linguam incidet in malum.

False heart never found happiness, nor lying tongue escaped mischief.

He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.

Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam; sed nec pater in fatuo lætabitur.

A fool’s birthday is a day of shame; never father had joy of a reckless son.

A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.

Animus gaudens ætatem floridam facit; spiritus tristis exsiccat ossa.

A cheerful heart makes a quick recovery, it is crushed spirits that waste a man’s frame.

A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas judicii.

Out comes bribe from bosom, and the godless man turns justice aside from its course.

The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

In facie prudentis lucet sapientia; oculi stultorum in finibus terræ.

Wisdom is a beacon-light to the discerning; the fool’s eyes roam this way and that, as wide as earth.

Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.

Ira patris filius stultus, et dolor matris quæ genuit eum.

Poor fool, his father’s bane, sorrow of the mother that bore him!

A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.

Non est bonum damnum inferre justo, nec percutere principem qui recta judicat.

Foul shame it is to make the innocent suffer, to strike a blow against the chieftain that gives redress.

It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.

Qui moderatur sermones suos doctus et prudens est, et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus.

Skilful is he who has skill to check his tongue, learned he is that knows how to spare his breath.

He that setteth bounds to his words, is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.

Stultus quoque, si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur, et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.

Let him keep his own counsel, a fool may pass for a wise man; shut lips can claim discernment.

Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.