THE PARABLES OF SOLOMON.

Filius sapiens lætificat patrem, filius vero stultus mœstitia est matris suæ.

A father’s smile, a mother’s tears, tell of a son well schooled or ill.

A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.

Nil proderunt thesauri impietatis, justitia vero liberabit a morte.

No good ever came of money ill gotten; honest living is death’s avoiding.

Treasures of wickedness shall profit nothing: but justice shall deliver from death.

Non affliget Dominus fame animam justi, et insidias impiorum subvertet.

Still the Lord gives honesty a full belly, and on the knave’s scheming shuts his door.

The Lord will not afflict the soul of the just with famine, and he will disappoint the deceitful practices of the wicked.

Egestatem operata est manus remissa; manus autem fortium divitias parat. Qui nititur mendaciis, hic pascit ventos; idem autem ipse sequitur aves volantes.

Idle hand, empty purse; riches come of hard work. (Who trusts in false promises, throws his food to the winds; as well may he chase bird in flight. )

The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: but the hand of the industrious getteth riches. He that trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: and the same runneth after birds that fly away.

Qui congregat in messe, filius sapiens est; qui autem stertit æstate, filius confusionis.

Wilt thou gather in harvest time, a son well schooled? Or sleep the summer round, to thy father’s great shame?

He that gathered in the harvest, is a wise son: but he that snorteth in the summer, is the son of confusion.

Benedictio Domini super caput justi; os autem impiorum operit iniquitas.

Shines the Lord’s favour on the just man’s head; the sinner’s lips are silenced by his own ill-doing.

The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but iniquity covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Memoria justi cum laudibus, et nomen impiorum putrescet.

When blessings are given, the just are remembered still; it is the sinner’s name that rusts.

The memory of the just is with praises: and the name of the wicked shall rot.

Sapiens corde præcepta suscipit; stultus cæditur labiis.

Warning the wise man hears; the fool talks on, and is ruined.

The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips.

Qui ambulat simpliciter ambulat confidenter; qui autem depravat vias suas manifestus erit.

He walks secure, who walks pure; cunning will yet be found out.

He that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently: but he that perverteth his ways, shall be manifest.

Qui annuit oculo dabit dolorem; et stultus labiis verberabitur.

It needs no more than a wink of the eye to bring trouble; what wonder if the fool who talks earns a beating?

He that winketh with the eye shall cause sorrow: and the foolish in lips shall be beaten.

Vena vitæ os justi, et os impiorum operit iniquitatem.

The mouth, for the just man a life-giving well, for the wicked an arsenal of harm.

The mouth of the just is a vein of life: and the mouth of the wicked covereth iniquity.

Odium suscitat rixas, et universa delicta operit caritas.

Hatred is ever ready to pick a quarrel; love passes over all kinds of offence.

Hatred stirreth up strifes: and charity covereth all sins.

In labiis sapientis invenitur sapientia, et virga in dorso ejus qui indiget corde.

Never wise man’s lips but found the right word, or fool’s back but felt the rod.

In the lips of the wise is wisdom found: and a rod on the back of him that wanteth sense.

Sapientes abscondunt scientiam; os autem stulti confusioni proximum est.

Wise men treasure up their knowledge; a fool’s talk is ready to mar all.

Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is next to confusion.

Substantia divitis, urbs fortitudinis ejus; pavor pauperum egestas eorum.

As the rich man’s wealth is his stronghold, and the poor man’s need his peril,

The substance of a rich man is the city of his strength: the fear of the poor is their poverty.

Opus justi ad vitam, fructus autem impii ad peccatum.

so the doings of the just evermore win fresh life, the sinner’s increase his guilt.

The work of the just is unto life: but the fruit of the wicked, unto sin.

Via vitæ custodienti disciplinam; qui autem increpationes relinquit, errat.

Who lives by the lessons he has learned finds life; the way is lost when warnings go unheeded.

The way of life, to him that observeth correction: but he that forsaketh reproofs goeth astray.

Abscondunt odium labia mendacia; qui profert contumeliam, insipiens est.

Lying lips that hide malice, foolish lips that spread slander,

Lying lips hide hatred: he that uttereth reproach is foolish.

In multiloquio non deerit peccatum, qui autem moderatur labia sua prudentissimus est.

what a world of sin there is in talking! Where least is said, most prudence is.

In the multitude of words there shall not want sin: but he that refraineth his lips is most wise.

Argentum electum lingua justi; cor autem impiorum pro nihilo.

Silver refined is the just man’s every word, and trash the sinner’s every thought.

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: but the heart of the wicked is nothing worth.

Labia justi erudiunt plurimos; qui autem indocti sunt in cordis egestate morientur.

The just man’s talk plays the shepherd to many, while the fool dies of his own starved heart.

The lips of the just teach many: but they that are ignorant, shall die in the want of understanding.

Benedictio Domini divites facit, nec sociabitur eis afflictio.

Of the Lord’s gift comes wealth without drudgery.

The blessing of the Lord maketh men rich: neither shall affliction be joined to them.

Quasi per risum stultus operatur scelus, sapientia autem est viro prudentia.

For the fool, it is but a pastime to make mischief; to act prudently needs all a man’s wisdom.

A fool worketh mischief as it were for sport: but wisdom is prudence to a man.

Quod timet impius veniet super eum; desiderium suum justus dabitur.

Not in vain the sinner fears, the just man hopes;

That which the wicked feareth, shall come upon him: to the just their desire shall be given.

Quasi tempestas transiens non erit impius; justus autem quasi fundamentum sempiternum.

vanished, like the storm of yesterday, or secure eternally.

As a tempest that passeth, so the wicked shall be no more: but the just is as an everlasting foundation.

Sicut acetum dentibus, et fumus oculis, sic piger his qui miserunt eum.

What irks a man more than vinegar on the tooth, or smoke in the eyes? A lingering messenger.

As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that sent him.

Timor Domini apponet dies, et anni impiorum breviabuntur.

If fear of the Lord brings life, few years shall the wicked have;

The fear of the Lord shall prolong days: and the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Exspectatio justorum lætitia, spes autem impiorum peribit.

die their hopes must while honest folk wait on contentedly.

The expectation of the just is joy; but the hope of the wicked shall perish.

Fortitudo simplicis via Domini, et pavor his qui operantur malum.

The Lord’s judgements, what comfort they bring to the innocent, what terrors to the evil-doer!

The strength of the upright is the way of the Lord: and fear to them that work evil.

Justus in æternum non commovebitur, impii autem non habitabunt super terram.

An abiding home never the just lacked yet, or the guilty found.

The just shall never be moved: but the wicked shall not dwell on the earth.

Os justi parturiet sapientiam; lingua pravorum peribit.

A just man’s talk breeds wisdom, while the sinner’s tongue dies barren;

The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom: the tongue of the perverse shall perish.

Labia justi considerant placita, et os impiorum perversa.

welcome ever the one, cross-grained the other.

The lips of the just consider what is acceptable: and the mouth of the wicked uttereth perverse things.