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Proverbs 25

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1 αὗται αἱ παιδεῖαι σαλωμῶντος αἱ ἀδιάκριτοι ἃς ἐξεγράψαντο οἱ φίλοι Εζεκιου τοῦ βασιλέως τῆς Ιουδαίας

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

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

2 δόξα θεοῦ κρύπτει λόγον δόξα δὲ βασιλέως τιμᾷ πράγματα 3 οὐρανὸς ὑψηλός γῆ δὲ βαθεῖα καρδία δὲ βασιλέως ἀνεξέλεγκτος 4 τύπτε ἀδόκιμον ἀργύριον καὶ καθαρισθήσεται καθαρὸν ἅπαν 5 κτεῖνε ἀσεβεῖς ἐκ προσώπου βασιλέως καὶ κατορθώσει ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ὁ θρόνος αὐτοῦ 6 μὴ ἀλαζονεύου ἐνώπιον βασιλέως μηδὲ ἐν τόποις δυναστῶν ὑφίστασο 7 κρεῖσσον γάρ σοι τὸ ῥηθῆναι ἀνάβαινε πρός με ἢ ταπεινῶσαί σε ἐν προσώπῳ δυνάστου ἃ εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου λέγε

2 For mysteries unfathomable, praise God; for mysteries revealed, the king. 3 High as heaven thou must look, deep as earth, ere the mind of kings shall be made known to thee. 4 Rid silver of dross, and the cup shines bright; 5 rid the court of knaves, and the throne stands firm. 6 Never play the great lord at court, and mingle with men of rank; 7 who would not rather be beckoned to a higher place, than be put to the blush, and in the king’s presence?[1]

2

Gloria Dei est celare verbum,
et gloria regum investigare sermonem. 3
Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum,
et cor regum inscrutabile. 4
Aufer rubiginem de argento,
et egredietur vas purissimum. 5
Aufer impietatem de vultu regis,
et firmabitur justitia thronus ejus. 6
Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege,
et in loco magnorum ne steteris. 7
Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi: Ascende huc,
quam ut humilieris coram principe.

8 μὴ πρόσπιπτε εἰς μάχην ταχέως ἵνα μὴ μεταμεληθῇς ἐ{P'} ἐσχάτων ἡνίκα ἄν σε ὀνειδίσῃ ὁ σὸς φίλος 9 ἀναχώρει εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω μὴ καταφρόνει 10 μή σε ὀνειδίσῃ μὲν ὁ φίλος ἡ δὲ μάχη σου καὶ ἡ ἔχθρα οὐκ ἀπέσται ἀλ{L'} ἔσται σοι ἴση θανάτῳ χάρις καὶ φιλία ἐλευθεροῖ ἃς τήρησον σεαυτῷ ἵνα μὴ ἐπονείδιστος γένῃ ἀλλὰ φύλαξον τὰς ὁδούς σου εὐσυναλλάκτως

8 When men go to law, do not disclose hastily what thy eyes have witnessed;[2] it may be thou hast tainted a friend’s name, and there is no undoing the mischief. 9 To thy friend’s private ear open thy wrongs; vent the secret abroad, 10 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.[3])

8

Quæ viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in jurgio cito,
ne postea emendare non possis,
cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum. 9
Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo,
et secretum extraneo ne reveles: 10
ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit,
et exprobrare non cesset.
Gratia et amicitia liberant:
quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.

11 μῆλον χρυσοῦν ἐν ὁρμίσκῳ σαρδίου οὕτως εἰπεῖν λόγον 12 εἰς ἐνώτιον χρυσοῦν σάρδιον πολυτελὲς δέδεται λόγος σοφὸς εἰς εὐήκοον οὖς 13 ὥσπερ ἔξοδος χιόνος ἐν ἀμήτῳ κατὰ καῦμα ὠφελεῖ οὕτως ἄγγελος πιστὸς τοὺς ἀποστείλαντας αὐτόν ψυχὰς γὰρ τῶν αὐτῷ χρωμένων ὠφελεῖ 14 ὥσπερ ἄνεμοι καὶ νέφη καὶ ὑετοὶ ἐπιφανέστατοι οὕτως οἱ καυχώμενοι ἐπὶ δόσει ψευδεῖ

11 Like a boss of gold amid silver tracery it shines out, the right word spoken. 12 Golden ear-ring nor pearl drop fits so well, as wise reproof given to a wise listener. 13 Find a trusty messenger; not snow in harvest-time will bring thee more relief. 14 Storm-wrack and cloud and no rain to follow; such thanks he wins that boasts much, and nothing accomplishes.

11
Mala aurea in lectis argenteis,
qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo. 12
Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens,
qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem. 13
Sicut frigus nivis in die messis,
ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum:
animam ipsius requiescere facit. 14
Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes,
vir gloriosus et promissa non complens.

15 ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ εὐοδία βασιλεῦσιν γλῶσσα δὲ μαλακὴ συντρίβει ὀστᾶ

15 A prince, in his forbearance,[4] may yet be won over to thy cause; hard heart gives place to soft tongue.

15
Patientia lenietur princeps,
et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.

16 μέλι εὑρὼν φάγε τὸ ἱκανόν μήποτε πλησθεὶς ἐξεμέσῃς 17 σπάνιον εἴσαγε σὸν πόδα πρὸς τὸν σεαυτοῦ φίλον μήποτε πλησθείς σου μισήσῃ σε

16 Honey if thou find, eat thy fill and no more; nothing comes of surfeit but vomiting. 17 Rare be thy visits to a neighbour; he will soon have enough, and weary of thee.

16

Mel invenisti: comede quod sufficit tibi,
ne forte satiatus evomas illud. 17
Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui,
nequando satiatus oderit te.

18 ῥόπαλον καὶ μάχαιρα καὶ τόξευμα ἀκιδωτόν οὕτως καὶ ἀνὴρ ὁ καταμαρτυρῶν τοῦ φίλου αὐτοῦ μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ 19 ὀδοὺς κακοῦ καὶ ποὺς παρανόμου ὀλεῖται ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῇ 20 ὥσπερ ὄξος ἕλκει ἀσύμφορον οὕτως προσπεσὸν πάθος ἐν σώματι καρδίαν λυπεῖ ὥσπερ σὴς ἱματίῳ καὶ σκώληξ ξύλῳ οὕτως λύπη ἀνδρὸς βλάπτει καρδίαν

18 What is worse than javelin, sword, and arrow all at once? One that bears false witness against his neighbour. 19 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. 20 Vinegar goes ill with natron, and song with a discontented heart. (Moth cannot fret garment, or worm wood, as care the heart.)

18
Jaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta,
homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium. 19
Dens putridus, et pes lassus,
qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ, 20
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.

21 ἐὰν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σου τρέφε αὐτόν ἐὰν διψᾷ πότιζε αὐτόν 22 τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ὁ δὲ κύριος ἀνταποδώσει σοι ἀγαθά

21 Hungers thy enemy? Here is thy chance; feed him. Thirsts he? Of thy well let him drink. 22 So doing, thou wilt heap burning coals upon his head, and for thyself, the Lord will recompense thee.[5]

21
Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum;
si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere: 22
prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus,
et Dominus reddet tibi.

23 ἄνεμος βορέας ἐξεγείρει νέφη πρόσωπον δὲ ἀναιδὲς γλῶσσαν ἐρεθίζει

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

23
Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias,
et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.

24 κρεῖττον οἰκεῖν ἐπὶ γωνίας δώματος ἢ μετὰ γυναικὸς λοιδόρου ἐν οἰκίᾳ κοινῇ

24 Better lodge in a garret than share thy house with a scold.[6]

24
Melius est sedere in angulo domatis
quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi.

25 ὥσπερ ὕδωρ ψυχρὸν ψυχῇ διψώσῃ προσηνές οὕτως ἀγγελία ἀγαθὴ ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν

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

25
Aqua frigida animæ sitienti,
et nuntius bonus de terra longinqua.

26 ὥσπερ εἴ τις πηγὴν φράσσοι καὶ ὕδατος ἔξοδον λυμαίνοιτο οὕτως ἄκοσμον δίκαιον πεπτωκέναι ἐνώπιον ἀσεβοῦς

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

26
Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta,
justus cadens coram impio.

27 ἐσθίειν μέλι πολὺ οὐ καλόν τιμᾶν δὲ χρὴ λόγους ἐνδόξους 28 ὥσπερ πόλις τὰ τείχη καταβεβλημένη καὶ ἀτείχιστος οὕτως ἀνὴρ ὃς οὐ μετὰ βουλῆς τι πράσσει

27 A surfeit harms, though it be of honey; search too high, and the brightness shall dazzle thee.[7] 28 Like a city unwalled he lies defenceless, that cannot master himself, but ever speaks his mind.

27
Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum,
sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria. 28
Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu,
ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.

[1] Lk. 14.8-10.

[2] ‘What thy eyes have witnessed’; some interpreters of the Hebrew text would connect the words so rendered with the preceding sentence.

[3] The words enclosed in brackets are found in the Septuagint Greek, but not in the Hebrew text.

[4] Some would render ‘through thy forbearance’, but we should hardly expect a subject’s attitude towards his prince to be so described.

[5] vv. 21, 22. See Rom. 12.20 and note there.

[6] Repeated from 21.9 above.

[7] The second half of this verse has given rise to much conjecture. It runs, literally, in the Hebrew, ‘and the searching out of their glory, glory’. The rendering given above is that presumably intended by the Latin, but it is difficult to derive this or any meaning from the Hebrew text as it stands.

Knox Translation Copyright © 2013 Westminster Diocese
Nihil Obstat. Father Anton Cowan, Censor.
Imprimatur. +Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. 8th January 2012.
Re-typeset and published in 2012 by Baronius Press Ltd