Proverbs Chapter 18

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 He that hath a mind to depart from a friend, seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 The wicked man, when he is come into the depths of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 Words from the mouth of a man are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.

6 The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 He that answereth before he heareth, showeth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.

16 A man's gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes.
17 The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
19 A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico:
omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
2 Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ,
nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde ejus.
3 Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit;
sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.
4 Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri,
et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.
5 Accipere personam impii non est bonum,
ut declines a veritate judicii.

6 Labia stulti miscent se rixis,
et os ejus jurgia provocat.
7 Os stulti contritio ejus,
et labia ipsius ruina animæ ejus.
8 Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia,
et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris.
Pigrum dejicit timor;
animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.
9 Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo
frater est sua opera dissipantis.
10 Turris fortissima nomen Domini;
ad ipsum currit justus, et exaltabitur.
11 Substantia divitis urbs roboris ejus,
et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
12 Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis,
et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
13 Qui prius respondet quam audiat,
stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
14 Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam;
spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?
15 Cor prudens possidebit scientiam,
et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.

16 Donum hominis dilatat viam ejus,
et ante principes spatium ei facit.
17 Justus prior est accusator sui:
venit amicus ejus, et investigabit eum.
18 Contradictiones comprimit sors,
et inter potentes quoque dijudicat.
19 Frater qui adjuvatur a fratre quasi civitas firma,
et judicia quasi vectes urbium.
20 De fructu oris viri replebitur venter ejus,
et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.
21 Mors et vita in manu linguæ;
qui diligunt eam comedent fructus ejus.
22 Qui invenit mulierem bonam invenit bonum,
et hauriet jucunditatem a Domino.
Qui expellit mulierem bonam expellit bonum;
qui autem tenet adulteram stultus est et impius.
23 Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper,
et dives effabitur rigide.
24 Vir amabilis ad societatem
magis amicus erit quam frater.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition

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