प्रवक्ता ग्रन्थ 8

1Strive not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands.

2Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action against thee.

3For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to the heart of kings, and perverted them.

4Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.

5Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of thy family.

6Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof.

7Despise not a man in his old age; for we also shall become old.

8Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all die, and are not willing that others should rejoice at our death.

9Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.

10For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of understanding, and to serve great men without blame.

11Let not the discourse of the ancients escape thee, for they have learned of their fathers:

12For of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need.

13Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest thou be burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins.

14Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he sit as a spy to entrap thee in thy words.

15Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself: and if thou lendest, count it as lost.

16Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, think as if thou wert to pay it.

17Judge not against a judge: for he judgeth according to that which is just.

18Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish together with his folly.

19Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help he will overthrow thee.

20Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such things as please them.

21Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.

22Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil turn, and speak reproachfully to thee.

1[Non litiges cum homine potente, ne forte incidas in manus illius.

2Non contendas cum viro locuplete, ne forte contra te constituat litem tibi:

3multos enim perdidit aurum et argentum, et usque ad cor regum extendit et convertit.

4Non litiges cum homine linguato, et non strues in ignem illius ligna.

5Non communices homini indocto, ne male de progenie tua loquatur.

6Ne despicias hominem avertentem se a peccato, neque improperes ei: memento quoniam omnes in correptione sumus.

7Ne spernas hominem in sua senectute, etenim ex nobis senescunt.

8Noli de mortuo inimico tuo gaudere: sciens quoniam omnes morimur, et in gaudium nolumus venire.

9Ne despicias narrationem presbyterorum sapientium, et in proverbiis eorum conversare:

10ab ipsis enim disces sapientiam et doctrinam intellectus, et servire magnatis sine querela.

11Non te prætereat narratio seniorum, ipsi enim didicerunt a patribus suis:

12quoniam ab ipsis disces intellectum, et in tempore necessitatis dare responsum.

13Non incendas carbones peccatorum arguens eos, et ne incendaris flamma ignis peccatorum illorum.

14Ne contra faciem stes contumeliosi, ne sedeat quasi insidiator ori tuo.

15Noli fœnerari homini fortiori te: quod si fœneraveris, quasi perditum habe.

16Non spondeas super virtutem tuam: quod si spoponderis, quasi restituens cogita.

17Non judices contra judicem, quoniam secundum quod justum est judicat.

18Cum audace non eas in via, ne forte gravet mala sua in te: ipse enim secundum voluntatem suam vadit, et simul cum stultitia illius peries.

19Cum iracundo non facias rixam, et cum audace non eas in desertum: quoniam quasi nihil est ante illum sanguis, et ubi non est adjutorium, elidet te.

20Cum fatuis consilium non habeas: non enim poterunt diligere nisi quæ eis placent.

21Coram extraneo ne facias consilium: nescis enim quid pariet.

22Non omni homini cor tuum manifestes, ne forte inferat tibi gratiam falsam, et convicietur tibi.]

1You should not quarrel with a powerful man, lest perhaps you may fall into his hands.

2You should not contend with a wealthy man, lest perhaps he may bring an action against you.

3For gold and silver have destroyed many, and have reached and corrupted even the hearts of kings.

4You should not quarrel with a man who is full of words, for you should not cast wood upon his fire.

5You should not confide in an ignorant man, lest he speak evil about your family.

6You should not despise a man who turns himself away from sin, nor reproach him with it. Remember that we are all subject to correction.

7You should not spurn a man in his old age. For we are all subject to growing old.

8Do not be willing to rejoice at the death of your enemy, knowing that we all die, and that we do not want others to rejoice over us.

9You should not despise the discourse of those who are old and wise; instead, ponder their proverbs.

10For from them, you will learn wisdom and intelligent doctrine, so as to serve great men without blame.

11Do not allow the discourse of your elders to pass you by. For they have learned from their fathers.

12And from them, you will learn understanding, and you will learn what response to give in a time of necessity.

13You should not kindle the coals of sinners by arguing with them. For you might be scorched by the flame from the fire of their sins.

14You should not stand against the face of a contemptuous person, otherwise he may sit down as if waiting in ambush against your words.

15You should not lend to a man who is stronger than you. But if you do lend, consider it lost.

16You should not promise beyond your ability. But if you do promise, consider how to fulfill it.

17You should not judge against a judge. For he judges according to what is just.

18You should not go forth on the way with an audacious man, lest perhaps he may burden you with his evils. For he goes forth according to his own will, and you will perish with him in his folly.

19You should not start a conflict with an angry man, and you should not go into the desert with an audacious man. For shedding blood is nothing to him, and in a place where there is no help for you, he will overthrow you.

20You should not hold counsel with the foolish. For they are not able to love anything except what pleases them.

21You should not take counsel in the sight of an outsider. For you do not know what he will do next.

22You should not reveal your heart to every man, lest perhaps he may offer a false kindness to you, and then speak reproachfully about you.