The Book of Proverbs — Liber Proverbiorum
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Chapter 25
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Douay-Rheims><Vulgate><Knox Bible
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These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
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Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Juda.
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Here are more of Solomon’s proverbs, copied out by Ezechias’ men, that was king of Juda.
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It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
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Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.
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For mysteries unfathomable, praise God; for mysteries revealed, the king.
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The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
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Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.
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High as heaven thou must look, deep as earth, ere the mind of kings shall be made known to thee.
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Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
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Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum.
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Rid silver of dross, and the cup shines bright;
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Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
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Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur justitia thronus ejus.
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rid the court of knaves, and the throne stands firm.
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Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
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Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.
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Never play the great lord at court, and mingle with men of rank;
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For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
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Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc, quam ut humilieris coram principe.
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who would not rather be beckoned to a higher place, than be put to the blush, and in the king’s presence?
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The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
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Quæ viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in jurgio cito, ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.
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When men go to law, do not disclose hastily what thy eyes have witnessed; it may be thou hast tainted a friend’s name, and there is no undoing the mischief.
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Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
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Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:
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To thy friend’s private ear open thy wrongs; vent the secret abroad,
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Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.
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ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.
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and he, hearing it, will turn on thee with reproaches, nor wilt thou lightly recover thy good name. (Favour and friendship are thy protection; to lose them is a foul blot. )
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To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
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Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
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Like a boss of gold amid silver tracery it shines out, the right word spoken.
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As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.
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Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem.
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Golden ear-ring nor pearl drop fits so well, as wise reproof given to a wise listener.
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As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
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Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum: animam ipsius requiescere facit.
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Find a trusty messenger; not snow in harvest-time will bring thee more relief.
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As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises.
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Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus et promissa non complens.
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Storm-wrack and cloud and no rain to follow; such thanks he wins that boasts much, and nothing accomplishes.
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By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
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Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.
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A prince, in his forbearance, may yet be won over to thy cause; hard heart gives place to soft tongue.
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Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
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Mel invenisti: comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.
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Honey if thou find, eat thy fill and no more; nothing comes of surfeit but vomiting.
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Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
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Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.
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Rare be thy visits to a neighbour; he will soon have enough, and weary of thee.
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A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
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Jaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.
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What is worse than javelin, sword, and arrow all at once? One that bears false witness against his neighbour.
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To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,
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Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,
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What is more frail than rotting tooth, or sprained foot? A false friend trusted in the hour of need; as well lose thy cloak in mid winter.
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And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.
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et amittit pallium in die frigoris. Acetum in nitro, qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo. Sicut tinea vestimento, et vermis ligno, ita tristitia viri nocet cordi.
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Vinegar goes ill with natron, and song with a discontented heart. (Moth cannot fret garment, or worm wood, as care the heart.)
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If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
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Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum; si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:
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Hungers thy enemy? Here is thy chance; feed him. Thirsts he? Of thy well let him drink.
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For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
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prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.
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So doing, thou wilt heap burning coals upon his head, and for thyself, the Lord will recompense thee.
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The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
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Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.
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The north wind stops rain, and a frown the backbiter.
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It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
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Melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi.
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Better lodge in a garret than share thy house with a scold.
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As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
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Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua.
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Good news from a far land, refreshing as cold water to parched lips.
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A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
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Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta, justus cadens coram impio.
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Fouled the spring, poisoned the well, when honest men bow down before knaves.
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As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.
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Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum, sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria.
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A surfeit harms, though it be of honey; search too high, and the brightness shall dazzle thee.
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As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.
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Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.
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Like a city unwalled he lies defenceless, that cannot master himself, but ever speaks his mind.