1 A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.

1 Judex sapiens judicabit populum suum,
et principatus sensati stabilis erit.

2 As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell therein.

2 Secundum judicem populi, sic et ministri ejus:
et qualis rector est civitatis, tales et inhabitantes in ea.

3 An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.

3 Rex insipiens perdet populum suum:
et civitates inhabitabuntur per sensum potentium.

4 The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.

4 In manu Dei potestas terræ:
et utilem rectorem suscitabit in tempus super illam.

5 In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.

5 In manu Dei prosperitas hominis,
et super faciem scribæ imponet honorem suum.

6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.

6 ¶ Omnis injuriæ proximi ne memineris,
et nihil agas in operibus injuriæ.

7 Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.

7 Odibilis coram Deo est et hominibus superbia,
et execrabilis omnis iniquitas gentium.

8 Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.

8 Regnum a gente in gentem transfertur propter injustitias,
et injurias, et contumelias, et diversos dolos.

9 Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.

9 Avaro autem nihil est scelestius.
Quid superbit terra et cinis?

10 The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.

10 Nihil est iniquius quam amare pecuniam:
hic enim et animam suam venalem habet,
quoniam in vita sua projecit intima sua.

11 For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.

11 Omnis potentatus brevis vita;
languor prolixior gravat medicum.

12 The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.

12 Brevem languorem præcidit medicus:
sic et rex hodie est, et cras morietur.

13 For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.

13 Cum enim morietur homo,
hæreditabit serpentes, et bestias, et vermes.

14 The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.

14 Initium superbiæ hominis apostatare a Deo:

15 The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.

15 quoniam ab eo qui fecit illum recessit cor ejus,
quoniam initium omnis peccati est superbia.
Qui tenuerit illam adimplebitur maledictis,
et subvertet eum in finem.

16 The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

16 Propterea exhonoravit Dominus conventus malorum,
et destruxit eos usque in finem.

17 He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.

17 Sedes ducum superborum destruxit Deus,
et sedere fecit mites pro eis.

18 Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.

18 Radices gentium superbarum arefecit Deus,
et plantavit humiles ex ipsis gentibus.

19 They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.

19 Terras gentium evertit Dominus,
et perdidit eas usque ad fundamentum.

20 Among brethren he that is chief is honourable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.

20 Arefecit ex ipsis, et disperdidit eos,
et cessare fecit memoriam eorum a terra.

21 The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.

21 Memoriam superborum perdidit Deus,
et reliquit memoriam humilium sensu.

22 Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.

22 Non est creata hominibus superbia,
neque iracundia nationi mulierum.

23 It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.

23 ¶ Semen hominum honorabitur hoc, quod timet Deum:
semen autem hoc exhonorabitur, quod præterit mandata Domini.

24 Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.

24 In medio fratrum rector illorum in honore:
et qui timent Dominum erunt in oculis illius.

25 Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed.

25 Gloria divitum, honoratorum, et pauperum,
timor Dei est.

26 Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.

26 Noli despicere hominem justum pauperem,
et noli magnificare virum peccatorem divitem.

27 Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.

27 Magnus, et judex, et potens est in honore:
et non est major illo qui timet Deum.

28 My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.

28 Servo sensato liberi servient:
et vir prudens et disciplinatus non murmurabit correptus,
et inscius non honorabitur.

29 Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?

29 Noli extollere te in faciendo opere tuo,
et noli cunctari in tempore angustiæ.

30 The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.

30 Melior est qui operatur et abundat in omnibus,
quam qui gloriatur et eget pane.

31 He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?

31 Fili, in mansuetudine serva animam tuam,
et da illi honorem secundum meritum suum.

32 Peccantem in animam suam quis justificabit?
et quis honorificabit exhonorantem animam suam?

33 Pauper gloriatur per disciplinam et timorem suum:
et est homo qui honorificatur propter substantiam suam.

34 Qui autem gloriatur in paupertate, quanto magis in substantia!
et qui gloriatur in substantia, paupertatem vereatur.