Ecclesiasticus 20

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Quam bonum est arguere, quam irasci, et confitentem in oratione non prohibere !	1 An admonition can be inopportune, and a man may be wise to hold his peace.
2 Concupiscentia spadonis devirginabit juvenculam :	2 It is much better to admonish than to lose one's temper, for one who admits his fault will be kept from disgrace.
3 sic qui facit per vim judicium iniquum.	3 Like a eunuch lusting for intimacy with a maiden is he who does right under compulsion.
4 Quam bonum est correptum manifestare p?nitentiam ! sic enim effugies voluntarium peccatum.	4 One man is silent and is thought wise, another is talkative and is disliked.
5 Est tacens qui invenitur sapiens : et est odibilis qui procax est ad loquendum.	5 One man is silent because he has nothing to say; another is silent, biding his time.
6 Est tacens non habens sensum loquelæ : et est tacens sciens tempus aptum.	6 A wise man is silent till the right time comes, but a boasting fool ignores the proper time.
7 Homo sapiens tacebit usque ad tempus : lascivus autem et imprudens non servabunt tempus.	7 He who talks too much is detested; he who pretends to authority is hated.
8 Qui multis utitur verbis lædet animam suam : et qui potestatem sibi sumit injuste, odietur.	8 Some misfortunes bring success; some things gained are a man's loss.
9 Est processio in malis viro indisciplinato, et est inventio in detrimentum.	9 Some gifts do one no good, and some must be paid back double.
10 Est datum quod non est utile, et est datum cujus retributio duplex.	10 Humiliation can follow fame, while from obscurity a man can lift up his head.
11 Est propter gloriam minoratio, et est qui ab humilitate levabit caput.	11 A man may buy much for little, but pay for it seven times over.
12 Est qui multa redimat modico pretio, et restituens ea in septuplum.	12 A wise man makes himself popular by a few words, but fools pour forth their blandishments in vain.
13 Sapiens in verbis seipsum amabilem facit : gratiæ autem fatuorum effundentur.	13 A gift from a rogue will do you no good, for in his eyes his one gift is equal to seven.
14 Datus insipientis non erit utilis tibi : oculi enim illius septemplices sunt.	14 He gives little and criticizes often, and like a crier he shouts aloud. He lends today, he asks it back tomorrow; hateful indeed is such a man.
15 Exigua dabit, et multa improperabit : et apertio oris illius inflammatio est.	15 A fool has no friends, nor thanks for his generosity;
16 Hodie f?neratur quis, et cras expetit : odibilis est homo hujusmodi.	16 Those who eat his bread have an evil tongue. How many times they laugh him to scorn!
17 Fatuo non erit amicus, et non erit gratia bonis illius :	17 A fall to the ground is less sudden than a slip of the tongue; that is why the downfall of the wicked comes so quickly.
18 qui enim edunt panem illius, falsæ linguæ sunt. Quoties et quanti irridebunt eum !	18 Insipid food is the untimely tale; the unruly are always ready to offer it.
19 neque enim quod habendum erat directo sensu distribuit ; similiter et quod non erat habendum.	19 A proverb when spoken by a fool is unwelcome, for he does not utter it at the proper time.
20 Lapsus falsæ linguæ quasi qui in pavimento cadens : sic casus malorum festinanter veniet.	20 A man through want may be unable to sin, yet in this tranquility he cannot rest.
21 Homo acharis quasi fabula vana, in ore indisciplinatorum assidua erit.	21 One may lose his life through shame, and perish through a fool's intimidation.
22 Ex ore fatui reprobabitur parabola : non enim dicit illam in tempore suo.	22 A man makes a promise to a friend out of shame, and has him for his enemy needlessly.
23 Est qui vetatur peccare præ inopia, et in requie sua stimulabitur.	23 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is constantly on the lips of the unruly.
24 Est qui perdet animam suam præ confusione, et ab imprudenti persona perdet eam : personæ autem acceptione perdet se.	24 Better a thief than an inveterate liar, yet both will suffer disgrace;
25 Est qui præ confusione promittit amico, et lucratus est eum inimicum gratis.	25 A liar's way leads to dishonor, his shame remains ever with him.
26 Opprobrium nequam in homine mendacium : et in ore indisciplinatorum assidue erit.	26 A wise man advances himself by his words, a prudent man pleases the great.
27 Potior fur quam assiduitas viri mendacis : perditionem autem ambo hæreditabunt.	27 He who works his land has abundant crops, he who pleases the great is pardoned his faults.
28 Mores hominum mendacium sine honore, et confusio illorum cum ipsis sine intermissione.	28 Favors and gifts blind the eyes; like a muzzle over the mouth they silence reproof.
29 Sapiens in verbis producet seipsum, et homo prudens placebit magnatis.	29 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure-- of what value is either?
30 Qui operatur terram suam inaltabit acervum frugum, et qui operatur justitiam, ipse exaltabitur : qui vero placet magnatis effugiet iniquitatem.	30 Better the man who hides his folly than the one who hides his wisdom.
31 Xenia et dona excæcant oculos judicum, et quasi mutus, in ore avertit correptiones eorum.
32 Sapientia absconsa, et thesaurus invisus, quæ utilitas in utrisque ?
33 Melior est qui celat insipientiam suam, quam homo qui abscondit sapientiam suam.