1 A reckless counsellor is wine, strong drink a riotous friend; the man who is swayed by these, call not wise. 2 Beware of the king’s power, as of lion roaring; challenge it, and thy life is forfeit. 3 Well may he boast, that keeps clear of strife; every fool will be quarrelling.
1 Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas:quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens. 2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis:qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam. 3 Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus;omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
5 Prudent counsel is a well buried deep in man’s heart; but the wise know how to draw from it. 6 Many there are that pass for kindly souls, but a faithful friend is hard to come by. 7 An upright man that goes armed with honest intent, leaves a blessing to his children. 8 Let a king rule justly, wrong-doing shall be winnowed away under his scrutiny.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri;sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud. 6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur;virum autem fidelem quis inveniet? 7 Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate suabeatos post se filios derelinquet. 8 Rex qui sedet in solio judiciidissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
11 Watch a boy even at his play, thou canst tell whether his heart is pure and true. 12 The ear that listens, the watchful eye, are both of the Lord’s fashioning.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer,si munda et recta sint opera ejus. 12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem:Dominus fecit utrumque.
20 In deepest night the lamp of his hopes shall be quenched, that turns upon father or mother with a curse. 21 The inheritance too soon come by, too late thou shalt find unblessed. 22 Never promise thyself vengeance; await the Lord’s hour, and redress shall be thine. 23 One weight for getting and one for giving, the Lord cannot endure; a false balance is great wrong. 24 Every step man takes is of the Lord’s choosing; and thou, poor mortal, wouldst thou plot out thy path?
20 Qui maledicit patri suo et matri,extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris: 21 hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio,in novissimo benedictione carebit. 22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum:exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te. 23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus;statera dolosa non est bona. 24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri:quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
30 Hurts that bruise cruelly, chastisement felt deep within, are sin’s best remedy.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala,et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.
[1] This is the meaning of the verse as given in the Septuagint Greek, and perhaps as it stands in the Hebrew. The Latin has ‘It is ruin to a man to devour the holy ones’.
