Old Testament
Sirach
Noli fieri pro amico inimicus proximo: improperium enim et contumeliam malus hæreditabit: et omnis peccator invidus et bilinguis.
Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued.
Ne vol fieri pro amico inimico proximo: improperio nam et contumelia malo haeredita: et omni peccatore invido et bilingo.
Non te extollas in cogitatione animæ tuæ velut taurus, ne forte elidatur virtus tua per stultitiam:
Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,
Non te extolle in cogitatione de anima tuo sicut tauro, ne forte virtute tuo elide per stultitia:
et folia tua comedat, et fructus tuos perdat, et relinquaris velut lignum aridum in eremo.
And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit, and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.
Et folios tuo comede, et fructus tuo perde, et relinque sicut ligno arido in eremo.
Anima enim nequam disperdet qui se habet, et in gaudium inimicis dat illum, et deducet in sortem impiorum.
For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.
Anima nam nequissimo disperde qui habe se, et in gaudio ad inimicos da illo, et deduce in sorte impio.
Verbum dulce multiplicat amicos et mitigat inimicos, et lingua eucharis in bono homine abundat.
A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.
Verbo dulci multiplica amicos et mitiga inimicos, et lingua eucha in bono homine abunda.
Multi pacifici sint tibi: et consiliarius sit tibi unus de mille.
Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.
Multo pacifica es ad te: et consiliario es ad te uno de mile.
Si possides amicum, in tentatione posside eum, et ne facile credas ei.
If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.
Si posside amico, in tentatione posside illo, et ne facile crede ad illo.
Est enim amicus secundum tempus suum, et non permanebit in die tribulationis.
For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
Es nam amico secundo tempore suo, et non permane in die de tribulatione.
Et est amicus qui convertitur ad inimicitiam, et est amicus qui odium et rixam et convitia denudabit.
And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.
Et es amico qui converte ad inimicitia, et es amico qui denuda odio et rixa et convitias.
Est autem amicus socius mensæ, et non permanebit in die necessitatis.
And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.
Es autem amico socio de mensa, et non permane in die de necessitate.
Amicus si permanserit fixus, erit tibi quasi coæqualis, et in domesticis tuis fiducialiter aget.
A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.
Amico si permane fixe, es ad te quasi coaequale, et in domestica tuo fiducialiter age.
Si humiliaverit se contra te, et a facie tua absconderit se, unanimem habebis amicitiam bonam.
If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.
Si humilia se contra te, et ab facie tuo absconde se, unanime habe amicitia bono.
Ab inimicis tuis separare, et ab amicis tuis attende.
Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
Ab inimicos tuo separa, et ab amicos tuo attende.
Amicus fidelis protectio fortis: qui autem invenit illum, invenit thesaurum.
A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.
Amico fideli protectione forti: qui autem inveni illo, inveni thesauro.
Amico fideli nulla est comparatio, et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti contra bonitatem fidei illius.
Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.
Ad amico fideli nullo comparatione es, et non es digna ponderatione de auro et de argento contra bonitate de fide de illo.
Amicus fidelis medicamentum vitæ et immortalitatis: et qui metuunt Dominum, invenient illum.
A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.
Amico fideli medicamento de vita et de immortalitate: et qui metue Domino, inveni illo.
Qui timet Deum æque habebit amicitiam bonam, quoniam secundum illum erit amicus illius.
He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.
Qui time Deo aeque i habe amicitia bono, quia secundo illo es amico de illo.
Fili, a juventute tua excipe doctrinam, et usque ad canos invenies sapientiam.
My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
Filio, ab iuventute tuo excipe doctrina, et usque ad canos inveni sapientia.
Quasi is qui arat et seminat accede ad eam, et sustine bonos fructus illius.
Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:
Quasi illo qui ara et semina accede ad illa, et sustine bono fructus de illo.
In opere enim ipsius exiguum laborabis, et cito edes de generationibus illius.
For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.
In opere nam de ipso exiguo labora, et cito ede de generationes de illo.
Quam aspera est nimium sapientia indoctis hominibus! et non permanebit in illa excors.
How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.
Quam aspero es nimio sapientia inde homines! Et non in illa excorde permane.
Quasi lapidis virtus probatio erit in illis: et non demorabuntur projicere illam.
She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.
Quasi de lapide virtute probatione es in illos: et non demoror proiice illa.
Sapientia enim doctrinæ secundum nomen est ejus, et non est multis manifestata: quibus autem cognita est, permanet usque ad conspectum Dei.
For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.
Sapientia nam de doctrina secundo nomine es de illo, et non es multo manifesta: ad que autem cognosce es, permane usque ad conspectu de Deo.
Audi, fili, et accipe consilium intellectus, et ne abjicias consilium meum.
Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.
Audi, filio, et de intellectu accipe consilio, et ne abiice consilio meo.
Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius, et in torques illius collum tuum.
Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:
Intra pede tuo in compedes de illo, et in torques de illo collo tuo.
Subjice humerum tuum, et porta illam, et ne acedieris vinculis ejus.
Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.
Subiice humero tuo, et porta illa, et ne aceda vinculos de illo.
In omni animo tuo accede ad illam, et in omni virtute tua conserva vias ejus.
Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.
In omni animo tuo accede ad illa, et in omni virtute tuo conserva vias de illo.
Investiga illam, et manifestabitur tibi: et continens factus, ne derelinquas eam:
Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:
Investiga illa, et manifesta ad te: et contine facto, ne derelinque illa:
in novissimis enim invenies requiem in ea, et convertetur tibi in oblectationem.
For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.
In novissimo nam inveni requie in illa, et converte ad te in oblectatione.
Et erunt tibi compedes ejus in protectionem fortitudinis et bases virtutis, et torques illius in stolam gloriæ:
Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:
Et es ad te compedes de illo in protectione de fortitudine et basees de virtute, et torques de illo in stola de gloria:
decor enim vitæ est in illa, et vincula illius alligatura salutaris.
For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.
Decoro nam de vita es in illa, et vinculos de illo alliga de salutari.
Stolam gloriæ indues eam, et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi.
Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.
Stola de gloria indue illa, et corona de gratulatione superpone ad te.
Fili, si attenderis mihi, disces: et si accommodaveris animum tuum, sapiens eris.
My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.
Filio, si attende ad me, disce: et si accommoda animo tuo, sape es.
Si inclinaveris aurem tuam, excipies doctrinam: et si dilexeris audire, sapiens eris.
If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
Si inclina aure tuo, excipe doctrina: et si dilige audire, sape es.
In multitudine presbyterorum prudentium sta, et sapientiæ illorum ex corde conjungere, ut omnem narrationem Dei possis audire, et proverbia laudis non effugiant a te.
Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.
In multitudine de presbyteros prudente sta, et de sapientia de illos ex corde coniunge, ut omni narratione de Deo pote audire, et proverbias de laude non effuge ab te.
Et si videris sensatum, evigila ad eum, et gradus ostiorum illius exterat pes tuus.
And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.
Et si vide sensato, eviga ad illo, et gradus de ostios de illo extera pede tuo.
Cogitatum tuum habe in præceptis Dei, et in mandatis illius maxime assiduus esto: et ipse dabit tibi cor, et concupiscentia sapientiæ dabitur tibi.
Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given to thee.
Cogitatu tuo habe in praeceptos de Deo, et in mandatos de illo maximo assiduo es: et ipso i da ad te corde, et concupiscentia de sapientia da ad te.
Ecclesiasticus — chapters