Melior est pauper qui ambulat in simplicitate sua quam dives torquens labia sua, et insipiens.

Better the poverty which keeps to honest ways, than the lot of a rich man who never learned to speak truth.

Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips, and unwise.

Ubi non est scientia animæ, non est bonum, et qui festinus est pedibus offendet.

Lack learning, all is not well within; ever the hasty stumble.

Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble.

Stultitia hominis supplantat gressus ejus, et contra Deum fervet animo suo.

Tripped by his own folly, a man eats his heart out, finding fault with the Lord.

The folly of a man supplanteth his steps: and he fretteth in his mind against God.

Divitiæ addunt amicos plurimos; a paupere autem et hi quos habuit separantur.

Riches will make thee new friends a many, poverty rob thee of the old.

Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom he had, depart.

Testis falsus non erit impunitus, et qui mendacia loquitur non effugiet.

Perjury will bring its own punishment; never was liar yet that escaped his doom.

A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Multi colunt personam potentis, et amici sunt dona tribuentis.

Suitors a many the princely heart shall have; give, and thou shalt find friends.

Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of him that giveth gifts.

Fratres hominis pauperis oderunt eum; insuper et amici procul recesserunt ab eo. Qui tantum verba sectatur nihil habebit;

The beggar wearies out his kinsmen; his friends, too, will shun him.Who hunts idle talk, comes home empty-handed;

The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall have nothing.

qui autem possessor est mentis diligit animam suam, et custos prudentiæ inveniet bona.

as thou lovest thy life get wisdom; discernment at thy side, thou shalt speed well.

But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that keepeth prudence shall find good things.

Falsus testis non erit impunitus, et qui loquitur mendacia peribit.

Perjury will bring its own punishment; never was liar but met his doom.

A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.

Non decent stultum deliciæ, nec servum dominari principibus.

Ill days, when fools live in comfort; worse yet, when servants sway their own masters.

Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor for a servant to have rule over princes.

Doctrina viri per patientiam noscitur, et gloria ejus est iniqua prætergredi.

Patience is wisdom’s livery; there is no such boast as a wrong overlooked.

The learning of a man is known by patience: and his glory is to pass over wrongs.

Sicut fremitus leonis, ita et regis ira, et sicut ros super herbam, ita et hilaritas ejus.

Of the king’s frown beware, as of lion roaring; welcome as dew on the grass his smile.

As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as the dew upon the grass.

Dolor patris filius stultus, et tecta jugiter perstillantia litigiosa mulier.

Great hurt it is to be a fool’s father; he has a roof that drips unendingly, who is husband to a scold.

A foolish son is the grief of his father: and a wrangling wife is like a roof continually dropping through.

Domus et divitiæ dantur a parentibus; a Domino autem proprie uxor prudens.

House and hoard a man may inherit; it is the Lord’s gift only, if he have a wife that minds her ways.

House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is properly from the Lord.

Pigredo immittit soporem, et anima dissoluta esuriet.

Sloth brings the sleep that has no awaking; idle hands, empty belly.

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

Qui custodit mandatum custodit animam suam; qui autem negligit viam suam mortificabitur.

Law observed is life preserved; the careless step leads the way to death.

He that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he that neglecteth his own way, shall die.

Fœneratur Domino qui miseretur pauperis, et vicissitudinem suam reddet ei.

Befriend the poor, and lend to the Lord; he will repay faithfully.

He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him.

Erudi filium tuum; ne desperes: ad interfectionem autem ejus ne ponas animam tuam.

Chasten thy son still, nor despair of his amendment; still let the death of him be far from thy thoughts.

Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul.

Qui impatiens est sustinebit damnum, et cum rapuerit, aliud apponet.

He injures himself, that is ungovernable in rage; every advantage he seizes does but injure him the more.

He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall take away he shall add another thing.

Audi consilium, et suscipe disciplinam, ut sis sapiens in novissimis tuis.

Give heed to counsel, accept correction, and thou shalt be wise at last.

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end.

Multæ cogitationes in corde viri; voluntas autem Domini permanebit.

Thought jostles thought in man’s heart; the Lord’s will stands firm.

There are many thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of the Lord shall stand firm.

Homo indigens misericors est, et melior est pauper quam vir mendax.

Poverty is the school of piety; better need than knavery.

A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying man.

Timor Domini ad vitam, et in plenitudine commorabitur absque visitatione pessima.

Fear of the Lord leads on to life, life where all is contentment, and no ill may come.

The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in fulness without being visited with evil.

Abscondit piger manum suam sub ascella, nec ad os suum applicat eam.

With folded hands the sluggard sits by, and never puts hand to mouth.

The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth.

Pestilente flagellato stultus sapientior erit; si autem corripueris sapientem, intelliget disciplinam.

The lash for the reckless, if thou wouldst turn a fool into a wise man; only cool heads will profit by a rebuke.

The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man he will understand discipline.

Qui affligit patrem, et fugat matrem, ignominiosus est et infelix.

Shame on the wretch that brings ruin on his own father, drives his own mother out of doors.

He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy.

Non cesses, fili, audire doctrinam, nec ignores sermones scientiæ.

Never weary, my son, of giving heed to warnings; never let the counsels of experience pass thee by.

Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of the words of knowledge.

Testis iniquus deridet judicium, et os impiorum devorat iniquitatem.

Out on the faithless witness that scorns right; the sinful souls that are ever greedy for wrong-doing!

An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

Parata sunt derisoribus judicia, et mallei percutientes stultorum corporibus.

There is a doom awaits the reckless; there are thick cudgels ready for the fool’s back.

Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies of fools.