Proverbia 30

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Verba Congregantis, filii Vomentis. Visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum morante confortatus, ait :	1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh, of Massa. Prophecy of this man for Ithiel, for Ithiel and for Ucal.
2 Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.	2 I am myself the stupidest of people, bereft of human intel igence,
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.	3 I have not learnt wisdom, and I lack the knowledge of the holy ones.
4 Quis ascendit in cælum, atque descendit ? quis continuit spiritum in manibus suis ? quis colligavit aquas quasi in vestimento ? quis suscitavit omnes terminos terræ ? quod nomen est ejus, et quod nomen filii ejus, si nosti ?	4 Who has mounted to the heavens, then come down again? Who has gathered the wind in the clasp ofhis hand? Who has wrapped the waters in his cloak? Who has set al the ends of the earth firm? What is hisname? What is his child's name? Do you know?
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus : clypeus est sperantibus in se.	5 Every word of God is unal oyed, a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax.	6 To his words make no addition, lest he reprove you and account you a liar.
7 Duo rogavi te : ne deneges mihi antequam moriar :	7 Two things I beg of you, do not grudge me them before I die:
8 vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me ; mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi : tribue tantum victui meo necessaria,	8 keep falsehood and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches, grant me only my share offood,
9 ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam : Quis est Dominus ? aut egestate compulsus, furer, et perjurem nomen Dei mei.	9 for fear that, surrounded by plenty, I should fall away and say, 'Yahweh-who is Yahweh?' or else, in destitution, take to stealing and profane the name of my God.
10 Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.	10 Do not blacken a slave's name to his master, lest he curse you, and you suffer for it.
11 Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit ;	11 There is a breed of person that curses his father and does not bless his mother;
12 generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis ;	12 a breed that, laying claim to purity, has not yet been cleansed of its filth;
13 generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ ;	13 a breed haughty of eye, with disdain in every glance;
14 generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus.	14 a breed with swords for teeth, with knives for jaws, devouring the oppressed from the earth and theneedy from the land.
15 Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes : Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod numquam dicit : Sufficit.	15 The leech has two daughters: 'Give! Give!' There are three insatiable things, four, indeed, that neversay, 'Enough!'
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua : ignis vero numquam dicit : Sufficit.	16 Sheol, the barren womb, earth which can never have its fil of water, fire which never says, 'Enough!'
17 Oculum qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suæ, effodiant eum corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilæ !	17 The eye which looks jeeringly on a father, and scorns the obedience due to a mother, wil be peckedout by the ravens of the val ey, and eaten by the vultures.
18 Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro :	18 There are three things beyond my comprehension, four, indeed, that I do not understand:
19 viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia.	19 the way of an eagle through the skies, the way of a snake over the rock, the way of a ship in mid-ocean, the way of a man with a girl.
20 Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit : Non sum operata malum.	20 This is how an adulteress behaves: she eats, then wipes her mouth and says, 'I have done nothingwrong!'
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere :	21 There are three things at which the earth trembles, four, indeed, which it cannot endure:
22 per servum, cum regnaverit ; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo ;	22 a slave become king, a brute gorged with food,
23 per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta ; et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ.	23 a hateful woman wed at last, a servant girl inheriting from her mistress.
24 Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus :	24 There are four creatures little on the earth, though they are wisest of the wise:
25 formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi ;	25 ants, a race with no strength, yet in the summer they make sure of their food;
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum ;	26 the coneys, a race without defences, yet they make their home in the rocks;
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas ;	27 locusts, which have no king, yet they al march in good order;
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.	28 lizards, which you can catch in your hand, yet they frequent the palaces of kings.
29 Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter :	29 There are three things of stately tread, four, indeed, of stately walk:
30 leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum ;	30 the lion, bravest of beasts, he wil draw back from nothing;
31 gallus succinctus lumbos ; et aries ; nec est rex, qui resistat ei.	31 a vigorous cock, a he-goat, and the king when he harangues his people.
32 Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime ; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.	32 If you have been foolish enough to fly into a passion and now have second thoughts, lay your handon your lips.
33 Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum ; et qui vehementer emungit elicit sanguinem ; et qui provocat iras producit discordias.	33 For by churning the milk you produce butter, by wringing the nose you produce blood, and bywhipping up anger you produce strife.