1 A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.

1 In lapide luteo lapidatus est piger:
et omnes loquentur super aspernationem illius.

2 A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand.

2 De stercore boum lapidatus est piger:
et omnis qui tetigerit eum excutiet manus.

3 An evilnurtured son is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.

3 ¶ Confusio patris est de filio indisciplinato:
filia autem in deminoratione fiet.

4 A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her father's heaviness.

4 Filia prudens hæreditas viro suo:
nam quæ confundit, in contumeliam fit genitoris.

5 She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.

5 Patrem et virum confundit audax,
et ab impiis non minorabitur:
ab utrisque autem inhonorabitur.

6 A tale out of season is as musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.

6 Musica in luctu importuna narratio:
flagella et doctrina in omni tempore sapientia.

7 Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.

7 ¶ Qui docet fatuum,
quasi qui conglutinat testam.

8 He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: when he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?

8 Qui narrat verbum non audienti,
quasi qui excitat dormientem de gravi somno.

9 If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents.

9 Cum dormiente loquitur qui enarrat stulto sapientiam:
et in fine narrationis dicit: Quis est hic?

10 But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.

10 Supra mortuum plora, defecit enim lux ejus:
et supra fatuum plora, defecit enim sensus.

11 Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep for the fool, for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death.

11 Modicum plora super mortuum, quoniam requievit:

12 Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life.

12 nequissimi enim nequissima vita super mortem fatui.

13 Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, and never be disquieted with madness.

13 Luctus mortui septem dies:
fatui autem et impii omnes dies vitæ illorum.

14 What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool?

14 Cum stulto ne multum loquaris,
et cum insensato ne abieris.

15 Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without understanding.

15 Serva te ab illo, ut non molestiam habeas,
et non coinquinaberis peccato illius.

16 As timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall fear at no time.

16 Deflecte ab illo, et invenies requiem,
et non acediaberis in stultitia illius.

17 A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.

17 Super plumbum quid gravabitur?
et quod illi aliud nomen quam fatuus?

18 Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear.

18 Arenam, et salem, et massam ferri facilius est ferre
quam hominem imprudentem, et fatuum, et impium.

19 He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.

19 ¶ Loramentum ligneum colligatum in fundamento ædificii non dissolvetur,
sic et cor confirmatum in cogitatione consilii.

20 Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.

20 Cogitatus sensati in omni tempore metu non depravabitur.

21 Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning to favour.

21 Sicut pali in excelsis, et cæmenta sine impensa posita,
contra faciem venti non permanebunt:

22 If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; for there may be a reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for for these things every friend will depart.

22 sic et cor timidum in cogitatione stulti
contra impetum timoris non resistet.

23 Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not always to be contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.

23 Sicut cor trepidum in cogitatione fatui omni tempore non metuet,
sic et qui in præceptis Dei permanet semper.

24 As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before blood.

24 ¶ Pungens oculum deducit lacrimas,
et qui pungit cor profert sensum.

25 I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself from him.

25 Mittens lapidem in volatilia, dejiciet illa:
sic et qui conviciatur amico, dissolvit amicitiam.

26 And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it will beware of him.

26 Ad amicum etsi produxeris gladium, non desperes:
est enim regressus.
Ad amicum

27 Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?

27 si aperueris os triste, non timeas:
est enim concordatio:
excepto convitio, et improperio, et superbia,
et mysterii revelatione, et plaga dolosa:
in his omnibus effugiet amicus.

28 Fidem posside cum amico in paupertate illius,
ut et in bonis illius læteris.

29 In tempore tribulationis illius permane illi fidelis,
ut et in hæreditate illius cohæres sis.

30 Ante ignem camini vapor et fumus ignis inaltatur:
sic et ante sanguinem maledicta, et contumeliæ, et minæ.

31 Amicum salutare non confundar,
a facie illius non me abscondam:
et si mala mihi evenerint per illum, sustinebo.

32 Omnis qui audiet cavebit se ab eo.

33 ¶ Quis dabit ori meo custodiam,
et super labia mea signaculum certum,
ut non cadam ab ipsis,
et lingua mea perdat me?