Proverbs Chapter 20

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise.
2 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?

7 The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.

16 Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord, and he will deliver thee.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 The steps of men are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.

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 Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas:
quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis:
qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
3 Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus;
omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit;
mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri;
sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur;
virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?

7 Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua
beatos post se filios derelinquet.
8 Rex qui sedet in solio judicii
dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum;
purus sum a peccato?
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura:
utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer,
si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem:
Dominus fecit utrumque.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat:
aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor;
et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
15 Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum,
et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.

16 Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni,
et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii,
et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur,
et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
19 Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter,
et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo et matri,
extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:
21 hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio,
in novissimo benedictione carebit.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum:
exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus;
statera dolosa non est bona.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri:
quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
25 Ruina est homini devorare sanctos,
et post vota retractare.

26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens,
et incurvat super eos fornicem.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis,
quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
28 Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem,
et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
29 Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum,
et dignitas senum canities.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala,
et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.

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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