25:1 Hæ quoque parabolæ Salomonis, quas transtulerunt viri Ezechiæ regis Juda.

25:1 These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias, king of Juda, copied out.

25:2 Gloria Dei est celare verbum, et gloria regum investigare sermonem.

25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.

25:3 Cælum sursum, et terra deorsum, et cor regum inscrutabile.

25:3 The heaven above and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

25:4 Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum.

25:4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:

25:5 Aufer impietatem de vultu regis, et firmabitur justitia thronus ejus.

25:5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.

25:6 Ne gloriosus appareas coram rege, et in loco magnorum ne steteris.

25:6 Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.

25:7 Melius est enim ut dicatur tibi : Ascende huc, quam ut humilieris coram principe.

25:7 For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.

25:8 Quæ viderunt oculi tui ne proferas in jurgio cito, ne postea emendare non possis, cum dehonestaveris amicum tuum.

25:8 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.

25:9 Causam tuam tracta cum amico tuo, et secretum extraneo ne reveles :

25:9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:

25:10 ne forte insultet tibi cum audierit, et exprobrare non cesset. Gratia et amicitia liberant : quas tibi serva, ne exprobrabilis fias.

25:10 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.

25:11 Mala aurea in lectis argenteis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.

25:11 To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

25:12 Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem.

25:12 As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.

25:13 Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum : animam ipsius requiescere facit.

25:13 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.

25:14 Nubes, et ventus, et pluviæ non sequentes, vir gloriosus et promissa non complens.

25:14 As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises.

25:15 Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.

25:15 By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

25:16 Mel invenisti : comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud.

25:16 Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.

25:17 Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te.

25:17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.

25:18 Jaculum, et gladius, et sagitta acuta, homo qui loquitur contra proximum suum falsum testimonium.

25:18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

25:19 Dens putridus, et pes lassus, qui sperat super infideli in die angustiæ,

25:19 To trust in an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,

25:20 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.

25:20 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.

25:21 Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum ; si sitierit, da ei aquam bibere :

25:21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:

25:22 prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.

25:22 For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.

25:23 Ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et facies tristis linguam detrahentem.

25:23 The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.

25:24 Melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi.

25:24 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop: than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.

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

25:25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so are good tidings from a far country.

25:26 Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta, justus cadens coram impio.

25:26 A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot and a corrupted spring.

25:27 Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum, sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria.

25:27 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.

25:28 Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir qui non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum.

25:28 As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.