These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.

Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Juda.

Here are more of Solomon’s proverbs, copied out by Ezechias’ men, that was king of Juda.

It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.

Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.

For mysteries unfathomable, praise God; for mysteries revealed, the king.

The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.

High as heaven thou must look, deep as earth, ere the mind of kings shall be made known to thee.

Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:

Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum.

Rid silver of dross, and the cup shines bright;

Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.

Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur justitia thronus ejus.

rid the court of knaves, and the throne stands firm.

Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.

Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.

Never play the great lord at court, and mingle with men of rank;

For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.

Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc, quam ut humilieris coram principe.

who would not rather be beckoned to a higher place, than be put to the blush, and in the king’s presence?

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.

Quæ viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in jurgio cito, ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.

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.

Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:

Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles:

To thy friend’s private ear open thy wrongs; vent the secret abroad,

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.

ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant: quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.

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. )

To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.

Like a boss of gold amid silver tracery it shines out, the right word spoken.

As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.

Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem.

Golden ear-ring nor pearl drop fits so well, as wise reproof given to a wise listener.

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.

Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum: animam ipsius requiescere facit.

Find a trusty messenger; not snow in harvest-time will bring thee more relief.

As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises.

Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus et promissa non complens.

Storm-wrack and cloud and no rain to follow; such thanks he wins that boasts much, and nothing accomplishes.

By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.

A prince, in his forbearance, may yet be won over to thy cause; hard heart gives place to soft tongue.

Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.

Mel invenisti: comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.

Honey if thou find, eat thy fill and no more; nothing comes of surfeit but vomiting.

Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.

Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.

Rare be thy visits to a neighbour; he will soon have enough, and weary of thee.

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

Jaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.

What is worse than javelin, sword, and arrow all at once? One that bears false witness against his neighbour.

To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,

Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,

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.

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.

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.

Vinegar goes ill with natron, and song with a discontented heart. (Moth cannot fret garment, or worm wood, as care the heart.)

If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:

Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum; si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere:

Hungers thy enemy? Here is thy chance; feed him. Thirsts he? Of thy well let him drink.

For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.

prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.

So doing, thou wilt heap burning coals upon his head, and for thyself, the Lord will recompense thee.

The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.

Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.

The north wind stops rain, and a frown the backbiter.

It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.

Melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi.

Better lodge in a garret than share thy house with a scold.

As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.

Aqua frigida animæ sitienti, et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua.

Good news from a far land, refreshing as cold water to parched lips.

A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.

Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta, justus cadens coram impio.

Fouled the spring, poisoned the well, when honest men bow down before knaves.

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.

Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum, sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria.

A surfeit harms, though it be of honey; search too high, and the brightness shall dazzle thee.

As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.

Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.

Like a city unwalled he lies defenceless, that cannot master himself, but ever speaks his mind.