Proverbiorum 23
1 Quando sederis ut comedas cum principe, diligenter attende quæ apposita sunt ante faciem tuam:
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 et statue cultrum in gutture tuo, si tamen habes in potestate animam tuam,
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 ne desideres de cibis eius, in quo est panis mendacii.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Noli laborare ut diteris: sed prudentiæ tuæ pone modum.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Ne erigas oculos tuos ad opes, quas non potes habere: quia facient sibi pennas quasi aquilæ, et volabunt in cælum.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Ne comedas cum homine invido, et ne desideres cibos eius:
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 quoniam in similitudinem arioli, et coniectoris, æstimat quod ignorat. Comede et bibe, dicet tibi: et mens eius non est tecum.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Cibos, quos comederas, evomes: et perdes pulchros sermones tuos.
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 In auribus insipientium ne loquaris: qui despicient doctrinam eloquii tui.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Ne attingas parvulorum terminos: et agrum pupillorum ne introeas:
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 Propinquus enim illorum fortis est: et ipse iudicabit contra te causam illorum.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Ingrediatur ad doctrinam cor tuum: et aures tuæ ad verba scientiæ.
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Noli subtrahere a puero disciplinam: si enim percusseris eum virga, non morietur.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Fili mi, si sapiens fuerit animus tuus, gaudebit tecum cor meum:
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 et exultabunt renes mei, cum locuta fuerint rectum labia tua.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Non æmuletur cor tuum peccatores: sed in timore Domini esto tota die:
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 quia habebis spem in novissimo, et præstolatio tua non auferetur.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Audi fili mi, et esto sapiens: et dirige in via animum tuum.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Noli esse in conviviis potatorum, nec in comessationibus eorum, qui carnes ad vescendum conferunt:
Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 quia vacantes potibus, et dantes symbola consumentur, et vestietur pannis dormitatio.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Audi patrem tuum, qui genuit te: et ne contemnas cum senuerit mater tua.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Veritatem eme, et noli vendere sapientiam, et doctrinam, et intelligentiam.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Exultat gaudio pater iusti: qui sapientem genuit, lætabitur in eo.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Gaudeat pater tuus, et mater tua, et exultet quæ genuit te.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Præbe fili mi cor tuum mihi: et oculi tui vias meas custodiant.
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 Fovea enim profunda est meretrix: et puteus angustus, aliena.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Insidiatur in via quasi latro, et quos incautos viderit, interficiet.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
29 Cui væ? cuius patri væ? cui rixæ? cui foveæ? cui sine causa vulnera? cui suffusio oculorum?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Nonne his, qui commorantur in vino, et student calicibus epotandis?
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Ne intuearis vinum quando flavescit, cum splenduerit in vitro color eius: ingreditur blande,
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 sed in novissimo mordebit ut coluber, et sicut regulus venena diffundet.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Oculi tui videbunt extraneas, et cor tuum loquetur perversa.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Et eris sicut dormiens in medio mari, et quasi sopitus gubernator, amisso clavo:
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 et dices: Verberaverunt me, sed non dolui: traxerunt me, et ego non sensi: quando evigilabo, et rursus vina reperiam?
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
