Proverbs 28, Catholic Public Domain Version
The impious flees, though no one pursues. But the just, like a confident lion, shall be without dread.
Fugit impius nemine persequente; justus autem, quasi leo confidens, absque terrore erit.
- 2
Because of the sins of the land, it has many princes. And because of the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the leader shall be prolonged.
Propter peccata terræ multi principes ejus; et propter hominis sapientiam, et horum scientiam quæ dicuntur, vita ducis longior erit.
- 3
A poor man slandering the poor is like a violent rainstorm in advance of a famine.
Vir pauper calumnians pauperes similis est imbri vehementi in quo paratur fames.
- 4
Those who abandon the law praise the impious. Those who guard it are inflamed against him.
Qui derelinquunt legem laudant impium; qui custodiunt, succenduntur contra eum.
- 5
Evil men do not intend judgment. But those who inquire after the Lord turn their souls toward all things.
Viri mali non cogitant judicium; qui autem inquirunt Dominum animadvertunt omnia.
- 6
Better is the pauper walking in his simplicity, than the rich walking in ways of depravity.
Melior est pauper ambulans in simplicitate sua quam dives in pravis itineribus.
- 7
Whoever keeps the law is a wise son. But whoever feeds gluttons brings shame to his father.
Qui custodit legem filius sapiens est; qui autem comessatores pascit confundit patrem suum.
- 8
Whoever piles up riches by usury and profit gathers them for him who will give freely to the poor.
Qui coacervat divitias usuris et fœnore, liberali in pauperes congregat eas.
- 9
Whoever turns away his ears from listening to the law: his prayer will be detestable.
Qui declinat aures suas ne audiat legem, oratio ejus erit execrabilis.
- 10
Whoever deceives the just in a malicious way will fall into his own perdition. And the simple shall possess his goods.
Qui decipit justos in via mala, in interitu suo corruet, et simplices possidebunt bona ejus.
- 11
The rich one seems wise to himself. But the poor one, being prudent, shall evaluate him.
Sapiens sibi videtur vir dives; pauper autem prudens scrutabitur eum.
- 12
In the exultation of the just, there is great glory. When the impious reign, men are brought to ruin.
In exsultatione justorum multa gloria est; regnantibus impiis, ruinæ hominum.
- 13
Whoever hides his crimes will not be guided. But whoever will have confessed and abandoned them shall overtake mercy.
Qui abscondit scelera sua non dirigetur; qui autem confessus fuerit et reliquerit ea, misericordiam consequetur.
- 14
Blessed is the man who is ever fearful. Yet truly, whoever is hardened in mind will fall into evil.
Beatus homo qui semper est pavidus; qui vero mentis est duræ corruet in malum.
- 15
An impious leader over a poor people is like a roaring lion and a hungry bear.
Leo rugiens et ursus esuriens, princeps impius super populum pauperem.
- 16
A leader destitute of prudence will oppress many through false accusations. But whoever hates avarice shall prolong his days.
Dux indigens prudentia multos opprimet per calumniam; qui autem odit avaritiam, longi fient dies ejus.
- 17
A man who slanders the blood of a life, even if he flees to the pit, no one will tolerate him.
Hominem qui calumniatur animæ sanguinem, si usque ad lacum fugerit, nemo sustinet.
- 18
Whoever walks simply shall be saved. Whoever is perverse in his steps will fall all at once.
Qui ambulat simpliciter salvus erit; qui perversis graditur viis concidet semel.
- 19
Whoever works his land shall be satisfied with bread. But whoever pursues leisure will be filled with need.
Qui operatur terram suam satiabitur panibus; qui autem sectatur otium replebitur egestate.
- 20
A faithful man shall be greatly praised. But whoever rushes to become rich will not be innocent.
Vir fidelis multum laudabitur; qui autem festinat ditari non erit innocens.
- 21
Whoever shows favoritism in judgment does not do well; even if it is for a morsel of bread, he forsakes the truth.
Qui cognoscit in judicio faciem non bene facit; iste et pro buccella panis deserit veritatem.
- 22
A man who hurries to become rich, and who envies others, does not know that destitution will overwhelm him.
Vir qui festinat ditari, et aliis invidet, ignorat quod egestas superveniet ei.
- 23
Whoever corrects a man, afterward he shall find favor with him, more so than he who deceives him with a flattering tongue.
Qui corripit hominem gratiam postea inveniet apud eum, magis quam ille qui per linguæ blandimenta decipit.
- 24
Whoever takes away anything from his father or mother, and who says, “This is not a sin,” is the associate of a murderer.
Qui subtrahit aliquid a patre suo et a matre, et dicit hoc non esse peccatum, particeps homicidæ est.
- 25
Whoever boasts and enlarges himself stirs up conflicts. Yet truly, whoever trusts in the Lord will be healed.
Qui se jactat et dilatat, jurgia concitat; qui vero sperat in Domino sanabitur.
- 26
Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool. But whoever treads wisely, the same shall be saved.
Qui confidit in corde suo stultus est; qui autem graditur sapienter, ipse salvabitur.
- 27
Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity.
Qui dat pauperi non indigebit; qui despicit deprecantem sustinebit penuriam.
- 28
When the impious rise up, men will hide themselves. When they perish, the just shall be multiplied.
Cum surrexerint impii, abscondentur homines; cum illi perierint, multiplicabuntur justi.
Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)