1 Man’s heart is ever full of devising; from the Lord comes the ordering of right speech.[1] 2 His own path man scans, and nothing sees amiss, but the divine balance weighs our thoughts; 3 share with the Lord the burden of all thy doings, if thou wouldst be sincere in thy intent.
1 Hominis est animam præparare,et Domini gubernare linguam. 2 Omnes viæ hominis patent oculis ejus;spirituum ponderator est Dominus. 3 Revela Domino opera tua,et dirigentur cogitationes tuæ.
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4 God, who made all, made all for his own purposes, even the godless man, with doom awaiting him.
4 Universa propter semetipsum operatus est Dominus;impium quoque ad diem malum.
5 A proud man the Lord holds in abhorrence; depend upon it, no acquittal shall he find. (To do right, that is the first step on the way of blessedness, a more welcome thing in God’s sight than any sacrifice a man can offer.[2]) 6 Kindness and honour are sin’s purging; ever it is the fear of the Lord turns men away from harm. 7 Live as the Lord would have thee live, and he will make even thy enemies into well-wishers.
5 Abominatio Domini est omnis arrogans;etiamsi manus ad manum fuerit, non est innocens.Initium viæ bonæ facere justitiam;accepta est autem apud Deum magis quam immolare hostias. 6 Misericordia et veritate redimitur iniquitas,et in timore Domini declinatur a malo. 7 Cum placuerint Domino viæ hominis,inimicos quoque ejus convertet ad pacem.
10 Speaks king, speaks oracle; never a word amiss. 11 Scale and balance are emblems of the Lord’s own justice; no weight in the merchant’s wallet but is of divine fashioning. 12 Wrong-doing the king will not abide; on right his own throne rests. 13 Kings are for honest talk; free-spoken is well loved. 14 The king’s frown is death at thy door; wisdom will appease it; 15 his smile is life; not more welcome the spring rains, than royal favour.
10 Divinatio in labiis regis;in judicio non errabit os ejus. 11 Pondus et statera judicia Domini sunt,et opera ejus omnes lapides sacculi. 12 Abominabiles regi qui agunt impie,quoniam justitia firmatur solium. 13 Voluntas regum labia justa;qui recta loquitur diligetur. 14 Indignatio regis nuntii mortis,et vir sapiens placabit eam. 15 In hilaritate vultus regis vita,et clementia ejus quasi imber serotinus.
18 Presumption comes first, and ruin close behind it; pride ever goes before a fall. 19 Better a humble lot among peaceful folk, than all the spoil a tyrant’s friendship can bring thee.
18 Contritionem præcedit superbia,et ante ruinam exaltatur spiritus. 19 Melius est humiliari cum mitibusquam dividere spolia cum superbis.
20 Well versed in doctrine, happiness thou shalt win; trust in the Lord, and find a blessing. 21 Good judgement a wise heart can claim; winning words bring greater prizes yet. 22 The prudent man drinks from a living fountain; fools only learn the lessons of their folly. 23 Wisdom distils from heart to mouth, and lends the lips persuasion. 24 Honey itself cannot vie with well-framed words, for heart’s comfort and body’s refreshment. 25 The right road in a man’s thinking may be one whose goal is death.
20 Eruditus in verbo reperiet bona,et qui sperat in Domino beatus est. 21 Qui sapiens est corde appellabitur prudens,et qui dulcis eloquio majora percipiet. 22 Fons vitæ eruditio possidentis;doctrina stultorum fatuitas. 23 Cor sapientis erudiet os ejus,et labiis ejus addet gratiam. 24 Favus mellis composita verba;dulcedo animæ sanitas ossium. 25 Est via quæ videtur homini recta,et novissima ejus ducunt ad mortem.
27 Ever the godless man digs a well of mischief, ever his lips are aflame. 28 His the scheming that breeds quarrels, the whispering that divides his clan, 29 the love of wrong that misleads his neighbours and carries them off into evil ways; 30 spell-bound with dreams of treachery, he shuts his lips tight and goes about his false errand.[3]
27 Vir impius fodit malum,et in labiis ejus ignis ardescit. 28 Homo perversus suscitat lites,et verbosus separat principes. 29 Vir iniquus lactat amicum suum,et ducit eum per viam non bonam. 30 Qui attonitis oculis cogitat prava,mordens labia sua perficit malum.