सूक्ति ग्रन्थ 25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8The 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.

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

10Lest 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.

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

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

13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.

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

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

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

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

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

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

20And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

27As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.

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

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

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

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

4Aufer rubiginem de argento, et egredietur vas purissimum.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.]

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

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

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

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

20et amittit pallium in die frigoris. Acetum in nitro, qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo. Sicut tinea vestimento, et vermis ligno, ita tristitia viri nocet cordi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.

2It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.

3Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.

4Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.

5Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.

6Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.

7For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.

8The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.

9Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,

10lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.

11Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

12Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.

13Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.

14A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.

15By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

16You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.

17Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.

18A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

19Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,

20and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.

21If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.

23The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.

24It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.

25Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.

26The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.

27Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.

28Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.