20:1 Quam bonum est arguere, quam irasci, et confitentem in oratione non prohibere !
20:1 How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer.
20:2 Concupiscentia spadonis devirginabit juvenculam :
20:2 The lust of an eunuch shall deflour a young maiden:
20:3 sic qui facit per vim judicium iniquum.
20:3 So is he that by violence executeth of the unwise.
20:4 Quam bonum est correptum manifestare pœnitentiam ! sic enim effugies voluntarium peccatum.
20:4 How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin.
20:5 Est tacens qui invenitur sapiens : et est odibilis qui procax est ad loquendum.
20:5 There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech.
20:6 Est tacens non habens sensum loquelæ : et est tacens sciens tempus aptum.
20:6 There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper time.
20:7 Homo sapiens tacebit usque ad tempus : lascivus autem et imprudens non servabunt tempus.
20:7 A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.
20:8 Qui multis utitur verbis lædet animam suam : et qui potestatem sibi sumit injuste, odietur.
20:8 He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.
20:9 Est processio in malis viro indisciplinato, et est inventio in detrimentum.
20:9 There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss.
20:10 Est datum quod non est utile, et est datum cujus retributio duplex.
20:10 There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the recompense of which is double.
20:11 Est propter gloriam minoratio, et est qui ab humilitate levabit caput.
20:11 There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that shall lift up his head from a low estate.
20:12 Est qui multa redimat modico pretio, et restituens ea in septuplum.
20:12 There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the same sevenfold.
20:13 Sapiens in verbis seipsum amabilem facit : gratiæ autem fatuorum effundentur.
20:13 A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.
20:14 Datus insipientis non erit utilis tibi : oculi enim illius septemplices sunt.
20:14 The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are sevenfold.
20:15 Exigua dabit, et multa improperabit : et apertio oris illius inflammatio est.
20:15 He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.
20:16 Hodie fœneratur quis, et cras expetit : odibilis est homo hujusmodi.
20:16 To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again: such a man as this is hateful.
20:17 Fatuo non erit amicus, et non erit gratia bonis illius :
20:17 A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for his good deeds.
20:18 qui enim edunt panem illius, falsæ linguæ sunt. Quoties et quanti irridebunt eum !
20:18 For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, and how many will laugh him to scorn!
20:19 neque enim quod habendum erat directo sensu distribuit ; similiter et quod non erat habendum.
20:19 For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had.
20:20 Lapsus falsæ linguæ quasi qui in pavimento cadens : sic casus malorum festinanter veniet.
20:20 The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
20:21 Homo acharis quasi fabula vana, in ore indisciplinatorum assidua erit.
20:21 A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually in the mouth of the unwise.
20:22 Ex ore fatui reprobabitur parabola : non enim dicit illam in tempore suo.
20:22 A parable coming out of a fool's mouth shall be rejected: for he doth not speak it in due season.
20:23 Est qui vetatur peccare præ inopia, et in requie sua stimulabitur.
20:23 There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his rest he shall be pricked.
20:24 Est qui perdet animam suam præ confusione, et ab imprudenti persona perdet eam : personæ autem acceptione perdet se.
20:24 There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy himself.
20:25 Est qui præ confusione promittit amico, et lucratus est eum inimicum gratis.
20:25 There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.
20:26 Opprobrium nequam in homine mendacium : et in ore indisciplinatorum assidue erit.
20:26 A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in the mouth of men without discipline.
20:27 Potior fur quam assiduitas viri mendacis : perditionem autem ambo hæreditabunt.
20:27 A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of them shall inherit destruction.
20:28 Mores hominum mendacium sine honore, et confusio illorum cum ipsis sine intermissione.
20:28 The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion is with them without ceasing.
20:29 Sapiens in verbis producet seipsum, et homo prudens placebit magnatis.
20:29 A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent man shall please the great ones.
20:30 Qui operatur terram suam inaltabit acervum frugum, et qui operatur justitiam, ipse exaltabitur : qui vero placet magnatis effugiet iniquitatem.
20:30 He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men shall escape iniquity.
20:31 Xenia et dona excæcant oculos judicum, et quasi mutus, in ore avertit correptiones eorum.
20:31 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb in the mouth, so that they cannot correct.
20:32 Sapientia absconsa, et thesaurus invisus, quæ utilitas in utrisque ?
20:32 O Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit is there in them both?
20:33 Melior est qui celat insipientiam suam, quam homo qui abscondit sapientiam suam.
20:33 Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his wisdom.