1 Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.

1 Sapientia humiliati exaltabit caput illius,
et in medio magnatorum consedere illum faciet.

2 Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.

2 Non laudes virum in specie sua,
neque spernas hominem in visu suo.

3 The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.

3 Brevis in volatilibus est apis,
et initium dulcoris habet fructus illius.

4 Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.

4 In vestitu ne glorieris umquam,
nec in die honoris tui extollaris:
quoniam mirabilia opera Altissimi solius,
et gloriosa, et absconsa, et invisa opera illius.

5 Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.

5 Multi tyranni sederunt in throno:
et insuspicabilis portavit diadema.

6 Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men's hands.

6 Multi potentes oppressi sunt valide,
et gloriosi traditi sunt in manus alterorum.

7 Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.

7 Priusquam interroges, ne vituperes quemquam:
et cum interrogaveris, corripe juste.

8 Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

8 ¶ Priusquam audias, ne respondeas verbum:
et in medio sermonum ne adjicias loqui.

9 Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.

9 De ea re quæ te non molestat, ne certeris:
et in judicio peccantium ne consistas.

10 My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.

10 Fili, ne in multis sint actus tui:
et si dives fueris, non eris immunis a delicto.
Si enim secutus fueris, non apprehendes:
et non effugies, si præcucurreris.

11 There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.

11 Est homo laborans et festinans, et dolens:
impius, et tanto magis non abundabit.

12 Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,

12 Est homo marcidus egens recuperatione,
plus deficiens virtute, et abundans paupertate:

13 And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him.

13 et oculus Dei respexit illum in bono,
et erexit eum ab humilitate ipsius, et exaltavit caput ejus:
et mirati sunt in illo multi, et honoraverunt Deum.

14 Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.

14 ¶ Bona et mala, vita et mors,
paupertas et honestas, a Deo sunt:

15 Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.

15 sapientia, et disciplina, et scientia legis, apud Deum:
dilectio, et viæ bonorum, apud ipsum.

16 Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

16 Error et tenebræ peccatoribus concreata sunt:
qui autem exsultant in malis consenescunt in malo.

17 The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.

17 Datio Dei permanet justis,
et profectus illius successus habebit in æternum.

18 There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:

18 Est qui locupletatur parce agendo,
et hæc est pars mercedis illius.

19 Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.

19 In eo quod dicit: Inveni requiem mihi,
et nunc manducabo de bonis meis solus:

20 Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.

20 et nescit quod tempus præteriet, et mors appropinquet,
et relinquat omnia aliis, et morietur.

21 Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

21 Sta in testamento tuo, et in illo colloquere,
et in opere mandatorum tuorum veterasce.

22 The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing to flourish.

22 Ne manseris in operibus peccatorum:
confide autem in Deo, et mane in loco tuo.

23 Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?

23 Facile est enim in oculis Dei
subito honestare pauperem.

24 Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil can come to me hereafter?

24 Benedictio Dei in mercedem justi festinat,
et in hora veloci processus illius fructificat.

25 In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

25 Ne dicas: Quid est mihi opus?
et quæ erunt mihi ex hoc bona?

26 For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

26 Ne dicas: Sufficiens mihi sum:
et quid ex hoc pessimabor?

27 The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.

27 In die bonorum ne immemor sis malorum,
et in die malorum ne immemor sis bonorum:

28 Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.

28 quoniam facile est coram Deo in die obitus
retribuere unicuique secundum vias suas.

29 Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.

29 Malitia horæ oblivionem facit luxuriæ magnæ,
et in fine hominis denudatio operum illius.

30 Like as a partridge taken and kept in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:

30 Ante mortem ne laudes hominem quemquam:
quoniam in filiis suis agnoscitur vir.

31 For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.

31 ¶ Non omnem hominem inducas in domum tuam:
multæ enim sunt insidiæ dolosi.

32 Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

32 Sicut enim eructant præcordia fœtentium,
et sicut perdix inducitur in caveam, et ut caprea in laqueum:
sic et cor superborum,
et sicut prospector videns casum proximi sui.

33 Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.

33 Bona enim in mala convertens insidiatur,
et in electis imponet maculam.

34 Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.

34 A scintilla una augetur ignis,
et ab uno doloso augetur sanguis:
homo vero peccator sanguini insidiatur.

35 Attende tibi a pestifero, fabricat enim mala,
ne inducat super te subsannationem in perpetuum.

36 Admitte ad te alienigenam:
et subvertet te in turbine,
et abalienabit te a tuis propriis.