1 Estos también son proverbios de Salomón, coleccionados por los hombres de Ezequías, rey de Judá. | 1 These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred. |
2 Es gloria de Dios mantener oculta una cosa, y gloria de los reyes investigarla. | 2 It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech. |
3 El cielo por su altura, la tierra por su profundidad, y el corazón de los reyes son impenetrables. | 3 Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable. |
4 Quita las escorias de la plata, y saldrá un vaso para el orfebre; | 4 Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth. |
5 quita al malvado de la presencia del rey, y su trono se afianzará en la justicia. | 5 Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice. |
6 No te des importancia en la presencia del rey ni te pongas en el lugar de los grandes: | 6 Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great. |
7 más vale que te digan: «Sube aquí», que verte humillado ante un noble. Lo que han visto tus ojos, | 7 For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince. |
8 no te apresures a llevarlo a juicio; porque ¿qué harás al final, cuando tu prójimo te cubra de confusión? | 8 The 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. |
9 Defiende tu causa contra tu prójimo, pero no reveles el secreto de otro, | 9 Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider, |
10 no sea que te eche en cara el que lo oye y tu infamia sea irreparable. | 10 lest 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. |
11 Manzanas de oro con filigranas de plata es la palabra dicha oportunamente. | 11 Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver. |
12 Anillo de oro y collar de oro fino es el sabio que reprende al que sabe escuchar. | 12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl. |
13 Como frescura de nieve en tiempo de cosecha es el emisario fiel para aquel que lo envía: él reconforta el ánimo de su señor. | 13 Just 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. |
14 Nubes y viento, pero sin lluvia, es el que se jacta de dar y no da nada. | 14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow. |
15 Con mucha paciencia se convence a un magistrado, y la lengua suave quiebra hasta un hueso. | 15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness. |
16 ¿Has encontrado miel? Come lo indispensable, no sea que te hartes y la tengas que vomitar. | 16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it. |
17 Pon tu pie raramente en la casa de tu vecino, no sea que se harte de ti y te aborrezca. | 17 Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you. |
18 Maza, espada y flecha puntiaguda es el que atestigua falsamente contra su prójimo. | 18 A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow. |
19 Diente picado, pie que vacila es confiar en el traidor cuando llega la adversidad. | 19 Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot, |
20 Quitar el manto en un día de frío, echar vinagre sobre una llaga es entonar canciones a un corazón afligido. | 20 and 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. |
21 Si tu enemigo tiene hambre, dale de comer; si tiene sed, dale de beber: | 21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink. |
22 así acumulas carbones encendidos sobre tu cabeza y el Señor te recompensará. | 22 For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you. |
23 El viento del norte engendra la lluvia y la lengua simuladora, un rostro irritado. | 23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue. |
24 Más vale habitar en un rincón del techo que compartir la casa con una mujer pendenciera. | 24 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house. |
25 Agua fresca para una garganta reseca es una buena noticia que llega de un país lejano. | 25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land. |
26 Fuente enturbiada y manantial contaminado es el justo que vacila ante el malvado. | 26 The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring. |
27 No es bueno comer mucha miel ni buscar excesivos honores. | 27 Just 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. |
28 Ciudad desmantelada y sin muralla es el hombre que no domina su genio. | 28 Just 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. |