Ecclesiasticus — Ecclesiasticus Jesu, filii Sirach
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Chapter 8
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Vulgate><Douay-Rheims><Knox Bible
1
Non litiges cum homine potente, ne forte incidas in manus illius.
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Strive not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands.
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If quarrel thou hast, let it not be with a prince, that may attach thy person;
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Non contendas cum viro locuplete, ne forte contra te constituat litem tibi:
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Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action against thee.
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nor with a rich man, that may implead thee,
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multos enim perdidit aurum et argentum, et usque ad cor regum extendit et convertit.
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For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to the heart of kings, and perverted them.
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with all the power there is in silver and gold to corrupt men, and sway even the hearts of kings;
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Non litiges cum homine linguato, et non strues in ignem illius ligna.
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Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.
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nor with a glib talker; thou dost but add fuel to his fire.
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Non communices homini indocto, ne male de progenie tua loquatur.
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Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of thy family.
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Be not familiar with a boor; thou wilt hear no good of thy ancestry.
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Ne despicias hominem avertentem se a peccato, neque improperes ei: memento quoniam omnes in correptione sumus.
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Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof.
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Scorn not the sinner that would amend his ways; reproach comes amiss, where all stand in need of correction.
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Ne spernas hominem in sua senectute, etenim ex nobis senescunt.
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Despise not a man in his old age; for we also shall become old.
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Nor fail in respect for the aged; it is of our stuff grey hairs are made.
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Noli de mortuo inimico tuo gaudere: sciens quoniam omnes morimur, et in gaudium nolumus venire.
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Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all die, and are not willing that others should rejoice at our death.
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Rejoice not over thy neighbour’s death; we all die, and would not have men rejoice over it.
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Ne despicias narrationem presbyterorum sapientium, et in proverbiis eorum conversare:
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Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.
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Do not be contemptuous of what older and wiser men have to tell thee; by their lore live thou,
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ab ipsis enim disces sapientiam et doctrinam intellectus, et servire magnatis sine querela.
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For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of understanding, and to serve great men without blame.
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if wise thou wouldst be, and have the secret of discernment, and live contentedly in the service of the great.
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Non te prætereat narratio seniorum, ipsi enim didicerunt a patribus suis:
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Let not the discourse of the ancients escape thee, for they have learned of their fathers:
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Do not let them pass thee by, these traditions older men have inherited from their fathers;
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quoniam ab ipsis disces intellectum, et in tempore necessitatis dare responsum.
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For of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need.
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they will turn thee into a man of judgement, that answer can make when answer is needed.
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Non incendas carbones peccatorum arguens eos, et ne incendaris flamma ignis peccatorum illorum.
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Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest thou be burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins.
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Wouldst thou remonstrate with a sinner? Make sure thou art not fanning the flame of his passions, thyself in peril of a scorching.
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Ne contra faciem stes contumeliosi, ne sedeat quasi insidiator ori tuo.
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Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he sit as a spy to entrap thee in thy words.
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Wouldst thou make reply to the railing accuser? Make sure he is not baiting a trap to ensnare thee.
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Noli fœnerari homini fortiori te: quod si fœneraveris, quasi perditum habe.
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Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself: and if thou lendest, count it as lost.
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Lend to one who can master thee? Then lent is lost.
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Non spondeas super virtutem tuam: quod si spoponderis, quasi restituens cogita.
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Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, think as if thou wert to pay it.
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Pledge not thyself beyond thy means; count ever thy pledge forfeit.
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Non judices contra judicem, quoniam secundum quod justum est judicat.
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Judge not against a judge: for he judgeth according to that which is just.
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Dispute not a judge’s award; who judges by right rule if not he?
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Cum audace non eas in via, ne forte gravet mala sua in te: ipse enim secundum voluntatem suam vadit, et simul cum stultitia illius peries.
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Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish together with his folly.
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Travel not with a rash companion, if thou wouldst not shoulder all his misfortune; he will go his own way, and thou share the reward of his folly.
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Cum iracundo non facias rixam, et cum audace non eas in desertum: quoniam quasi nihil est ante illum sanguis, et ubi non est adjutorium, elidet te.
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Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help he will overthrow thee.
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Quarrel not with a man of quick moods; on a desert road he is no companion for thee; he cares nothing for bloodshed, and will lay thee in the dust when none is by to aid thee.
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Cum fatuis consilium non habeas: non enim poterunt diligere nisi quæ eis placent.
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Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such things as please them.
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Take not counsel with a fool; he knows none but his own way of it.
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Coram extraneo ne facias consilium: nescis enim quid pariet.
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Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.
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Share not thy secret plans with a stranger; thou knowest not what trouble he may breed.
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Non omni homini cor tuum manifestes, ne forte inferat tibi gratiam falsam, et convicietur tibi.
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Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil turn, and speak reproachfully to thee.
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Never open to any man thy whole heart; an ill requital he may make, by bringing shame on thee.