A MILD answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury.

Responsio mollis frangit iram; sermo durus suscitat furorem.

A gentle answer is a quarrel averted; a word that gives pain does but fan the flame of resentment.

The tongue of the wise adorneth knowledge: but the mouth of fools bubbleth out folly.

Lingua sapientium ornat scientiam; os fatuorum ebullit stultitiam.

The speech of the wise is learning’s ornament; the fool babbles on.

The eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the evil.

In omni loco, oculi Domini contemplantur bonos et malos.

Go where thou wilt, the Lord’s eye is watching; good nor evil escapes his scrutiny.

A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.

Lingua placabilis lignum vitæ; quæ autem immoderata est conteret spiritum.

Tongue that speaks peaceably is a tree whose fruit gives life; tongue undisciplined can break hearts.

A fool laugheth at the instruction of his father: but he that regardeth reproofs shall become prudent. In abundant justice there is the greatest strength: but the devices of the wicked shall be rooted out.

Stultus irridet disciplinam patris sui; qui autem custodit increpationes astutior fiet. In abundanti justitia virtus maxima est: cogitationes autem impiorum eradicabuntur.

He is a fool that makes light of his father’s warnings; would he but listen to reproof, he should be prudent yet.(Might is most where right is most; root and branch the sinner shall be plucked up. )

The house of the just is very much strength: and in the fruits of the wicked is trouble.

Domus justi plurima fortitudo, et in fructibus impii conturbatio.

The just man’s home guards its treasure well; the hopes of the wicked are all confusion.

The lips of the wise shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools shall be unlike.

Labia sapientium disseminabunt scientiam; cor stultorum dissimile erit.

The talk of the wise is a seed-ground of learning; the thoughts of fools are ill matched with it.

The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of the just are acceptable.

Victimæ impiorum abominabiles Domino; vota justorum placabilia.

From the wicked man’s sacrifice the Lord turns away with loathing; only the just with their vows win his favour.

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: he that followeth justice is beloved by him.

Abominatio est Domino via impii; qui sequitur justitiam diligitur ab eo.

The whole course of the sinner’s life he cannot brook; pursue the right, if thou wouldst win his love.

Instruction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way of life: he that hateth reproof shall die.

Doctrina mala deserenti viam vitæ; qui increpationes odit, morietur.

Forsake the right path, and correction shall seem hard to thee; grow weary of reproof, and thy life shall pay for it.

Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the hearts of the children of men?

Infernus et perditio coram Domino; quanto magis corda filiorum hominum!

Shall the Lord read the secrets of the devouring grave, and not men’s hearts?

A corrupt man loveth not one that reproveth him: nor will he go to the wise.

Non amat pestilens eum qui se corripit, nec ad sapientes graditur.

Warn the headstrong, and thou wilt get no thanks for it; not for him the company of the wise.

A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down.

Cor gaudens exhilarat faciem; in mœrore animi dejicitur spiritus.

Gay heart, gay looks; sad thoughts crush the spirit.

The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Cor sapientis quærit doctrinam, et os stultorum pascitur imperitia.

Truth is the quest of discerning minds, trifling the pasture-ground of the foolish.

All the days of the poor are evil: a secure mind is like a continual feast.

Omnes dies pauperis, mali; secura mens quasi juge convivium.

To the friendless, every day brings trouble, but every day is a feast-day to a contented heart.

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content.

Melius est parum cum timore Domini, quam thesauri magni et insatiabiles.

Better a humble lot, and the fear of the Lord present, than great riches that leave a man unsatisfied.

It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted calf with hatred.

Melius est vocari ad olera cum caritate, quam ad vitulum saginatum cum odio.

Better sit down to a dish of herbs seasoned with charity, than feast on a fattened ox in ill-will.

A passionate man stirreth up strifes: he that is patient appeaseth those that are stirred up.

Vir iracundus provocat rixas; qui patiens est mitigat suscitatas.

Any brawler can provoke a quarrel; it needs a patient man to lay it by.

The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns; the way of the just is without offence.

Iter pigrorum quasi sepes spinarum; via justorum absque offendiculo.

Idleness finds ever a hedge of thorns in its path; the man of duty walks on unhampered.

A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth his mother.

Filius sapiens lætificat patrem, et stultus homo despicit matrem suam.

A father well content, a mother slighted, tell of a son’s wisdom or mortal folly.

Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.

Stultitia gaudium stulto, et vir prudens dirigit gressus suos.

A man of little sense is in love with his follies; prudence keeps to its chosen path.

Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, they are established.

Dissipantur cogitationes ubi non est consilium; ubi vero sunt plures consiliarii, confirmantur.

Counsel lacking, all designs go amiss; with the advice of many, they should have thriven.

A man rejoiceth in the sentence of his mouth: and a word in due time is best.

Lætatur homo in sententia oris sui, et sermo opportunus est optimus.

There are times when a counsellor has good cause to be proud; nothing better than the right word spoken.

The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest hell.

Semita vitæ super eruditum, ut declinet de inferno novissimo.

A mind well schooled sees the way of life stretching upwards, leading away from the pit beneath.

The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will strengthen the borders of the widow.

Domum superborum demolietur Dominus, et firmos faciet terminos viduæ.

A house where pride reigns the Lord will pull down at last; will have no encroaching on the lands of the friendless widow.

Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words most beautiful shall be confirmed by him.

Abominatio Domini cogitationes malæ, et purus sermo pulcherrimus firmabitur ab eo.

The schemes of wickedness he abhors; the dreams of innocence he loves, and brings true.

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that hateth bribes shall live. By mercy and faith sins are purged away: and by the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil.

Conturbat domum suam qui sectatur avaritiam; qui autem odit munera, vivet. Per misericordiam et fidem purgantur peccata: per timorem autem Domini declinat omnis a malo.

Let avarice lead thee away, thy home shall be ruined; long life is his, who scorns the bribe. (Kindness and honour are sin’s purging; ever it is the fear of the Lord turns men away from harm. )

The mind of the just studieth obedience: the mouth of the wicked overfloweth with evils.

Mens justi meditatur obedientiam; os impiorum redundat malis.

Attentive and docile is the upright heart; from the lips of the wicked comes mischief in full flood.

The Lord is far from the wicked: and he will hear the prayers of the just.

Longe est Dominus ab impiis, et orationes justorum exaudiet.

From the wicked, the Lord withholds his presence, listens only to the prayer of the just.

The light of the eyes rejoiceth the soul: a good name maketh the bones fat.

Lux oculorum lætificat animam; fama bona impinguat ossa.

The eye that smiles, how it cheers the heart! Good news, how it lends vigour to a man’s frame!

The ear that heareth the reproofs of life, shall abide in the midst of the wise.

Auris quæ audit increpationes vitæ in medio sapientium commorabitur.

A man’s ear once attentive to the discipline that brings life, no company shall be welcome thenceforward, but the wise.

He that rejecteth instruction, despiseth his own soul: but he that yieldeth to reproof possesseth understanding.

Qui abjicit disciplinam despicit animam suam; qui autem acquiescit increpationibus possessor est cordis.

He holds his life cheap, that will not listen to a warning; heed reproof, and be master of thy soul.

The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth before glory.

Timor Domini disciplina sapientiæ, et gloriam præcedit humilitas.

It is the fear of the Lord teaches the lessons of wisdom; humility goes first, and honour comes in her train.