Proverbios 25

1También estos son proverbios de Salomón, que compilaron los hombres de Ezequías, rey de Judá.

2Gloria de Dios es guardar una cosa en lo secreto, y gloria del rey escudriñarla.

3La altura del cielo, la profundidad de la tierra y el corazón del rey, son insondables.

4Separa de la plata la escoria, y el platero podrá hacer un vaso.

5Quita al impío de la presencia del rey, y su trono se fundará sobre la justicia.

6No te jactes delante del rey, ni te pongas en el lugar donde están los grandes.

7Pues mejor es que te digan: “Sube aquí”; que verte humillado ante el príncipe a quien vieron tus ojos.

8No empieces inconsideradamente a pleitear, pues, ¿qué harás al fin, cuando tu adversario te ponga en apuros?

9Defiende tu causa contra tu adversario, pero no reveles el secreto de otro,

10no sea que el que lo escucha te vitupere, y tu deshonra resulte imborrable.

11Manzana de oro en bandeja de plata, es la palabra dicha a tiempo.

12Zarcillo de oro y collar de plata es para el oído dócil la amonestación de un sabio.

13Como frescura de nieve en el tiempo de la siega, es un mensajero fiel para el que lo envía; refrigera el ánimo de su dueño.

14Nubes y vientos sin lluvia, tal es el que se jacta de donaciones que no hizo.

15La paciencia aplaca al príncipe, y la lengua blanda quebranta los huesos.

16Si hallas miel, come de ella solo tu medida, no sea que harto de ella tengas que vomitarla.

17Frecuenta solamente raras veces la casa de tu vecino, no sea que hastiado de ti te aborrezca.

18Maza, espada y flecha aguda es aquel que da falso testimonio contra su prójimo.

19Diente quebrado y pie que titubea es la confianza en un pérfido en el día de la angustia.

20Quitarse la ropa cuando hace frío (y echar) vinagre en el nitro, es como cantar coplas a un corazón afligido.

21Si tu enemigo tiene hambre dale de comer, si tiene sed, dale de beber;

22así amontonarás ascuas sobre su cabeza, y Yahvé te recompensará.

23El viento norte disipa la lluvia, y el rostro severo la lengua detractora.

24Mejor es habitar en la punta del techo, que en una casa con mujer pendenciera.

25Agua fresca para un alma sedienta, tal es la buena nueva que viene de tierra lejana.

26Fuente turbia y manantial corrompido, es el justo que vacila ante el impío.

27Comer mucha miel no es bueno, así también es dañoso escudriñar la Majestad (divina).

28Ciudad abierta y sin muro es el hombre que no sabe refrenarse.

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 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.