A right wiseman thinketh humbly of himself. 4. knowing that God's works are inscrutable, and perfect: 8. desireth truth in all things, and mediocrity in riches. 11. Abhorreth certain sorts of men, 15. and certain execrable things 18. noteth certain things hard to be known: 21. other things intolerable: 24. others admirable. 32. the tongue dangerous.A right wiseman thinketh humbly of himself. 4. knowing that Gods workes are inscrutable, and perfect: 8. desireth truth in al thinges, & mediocritie in riches. 11. Abhorreth certaine sortes of men, 15. & certaine execrable thinges 18. noteth certaine things hard to be knowen: 21. other thinges intolerable: 24. others admirable. 32. the tongue dangerous.✦
The fourth part. Other singular precepts, with praise of a prudent woman.The fourth part. Other singular precepts, with prayse of a prudent woman.
The words of the Gatherer the son of Vomiter. The vision, that the man spake, with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God abiding with him, said:THE wordes of the Gatherer the sonne of Vomiter. The vision, that the man spake, with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God abiding with him, sayd:¶✦Verba Congregantis, filii Vomentis. Visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum morante confortatus, ait :
2I am most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with me.I am most foolish of men, & the wisedom of men is not with me.✦Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.
3I have not learned wisdom, and have not known the science of saints.I haue not learned wisedom, and haue not knowen the science of saints.✦Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
4Who hath ascended into heaven and descended? who hath contained the spirit in his hands? who hath bound the waters together as in a garment? who hath raised up all the borders of the earth? what is his name, and what is the name of his son, if thou know?Who hath ascended into heauen and descended? who hath conteyned the spirit in his handes? who hath bound the waters together as in a garment? who hath raysed vp al the borders of the earth? what is his name, and what is the name of his sonne, if thou know?✦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 ?
5Every word of God tried by fire, is a buckler to them that hope in him:Euerie word of God tryed by fyre, is a buckler to them that hope in him:Omnis sermo Dei ignitus : clypeus est sperantibus in se.
6Add not any thing to his words, and so thou be reproved and found a liar:Adde not any thing to his wordes, and so thou be reproued and found a lyer:Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax.
7Two things I have asked thee, deny them not to me before I die.Two thinges I haue asked thee, denie them not to me before I dye.✦Duo rogavi te : ne deneges mihi antequam moriar :
8Vanity, and lying words make far from me. Beggary, and riches give me not: give only things necessary for my sustenance:Vanitie, and lying wordes make far from me. Beggerie, and riches geue me not: geue only things necessarie for my sustenance:✦vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me ; mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi : tribue tantum victui meo necessaria,
9lest perhaps being filled I be allured to deny, and may say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty I may steal, and forswear the name of my God.lest perhaps being filled I be allured to denie, and may say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by pouertie I may steale, and forsweare the name of my God.✦ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam : Quis est Dominus ? aut egestate compulsus, furer, et perjurem nomen Dei mei.
10Accuse not a servant to his master, lest perhaps he curse thee, and thou fall.Accuse not a seruant to his master, lest perhaps he curse thee, and thou fal.✦Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.
11There is a generation that curseth their father, and that blesseth not their mother.There is a generation that curseth their father, and that blesseth not their mother.Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit ;
12A generation, that seemeth to itself clean, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.A generation, that semeth to it self cleane, & yet is not washed from their filthines.generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis ;
13A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and the eyelids thereof set up on high.A generation, whose eies are loftie, and the eielids therof set vp on high.generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ ;
14A generation, that for teeth hath swords, and chaweth with their grinding teeth, that they may eat the needy out of the earth, and the poor from among men.A generation, that for teeth hath swordes, and chaweth with theyr grinding teeth, that they may eate the needie out of the earth, and the poore from among men.generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus.
15The sanguisuga: the bloodsucking leech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. Three things are unsatiable, the fourth never sayeth it sufficeth.The horseleach hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. Three things are vnsatiable, the fourth neuer sayth it sufficeth.Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes : Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod numquam dicit : Sufficit.
16Hell, and the mouth of the vulva: the womb, and the earth which is not satisfied with water: but the fire never sayeth it sufficeth.Hel, and the mouth of the matrice, & the earth which is not satisfied with water: but the fyre neuer sayth it sufficeth.Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua : ignis vero numquam dicit : Sufficit.
17The eye, that scorneth his father, and that despiseth the travail of his mother; in bearing him, let the ravens of the torrents pick it out, and the young of the eagle eat it.The eie, that scorneth his father, & that despiseth the trauail of his mother; in bearing him, let the rauens of the torrents pick it out, and the young of the eagle eate it.✦Oculum qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suæ, effodiant eum corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilæ !
18Three things are hard to me, and of the fourth I am utterly ignorant.Three thinges are hard to me, and of the fourth I am vtterly ignorant.Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro :
19The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man in youth.The way of an eagle in the ayre, the way of a serpent vpon a rocke, the way of a shippe in the middes of the sea, and the way of a man in youth.viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia.
20Such is also the way of an adulterous woman, which eateth, and wiping her mouth sayeth: I have done no evil.Such is also the way of an adulterous woman, which eateth, and wyping her mouth sayth: I haue done no euil.✦Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit : Non sum operata malum.
21By three things the earth is moved, and the fourth it can not sustain.By three thinges the earth is moued, and the fourth it can not susteyne.Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere :
22By a servant when he shall reign: by a fool when he shall be filled with cibo: food generally:By a seruant when he shal reigne: by a foole when he shal be filled with meate:per servum, cum regnaverit ; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo ;
23by an odiosam: hateful, an object of hatred woman when she shall be taken in matrimony: and by a bondwoman when she shall be heir to her mistress.by an odious woman when she shal be taken in matrimonie: & by a bondwoman when she shal be heyre to her mistresse.¶per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta ; et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ.
24There are four the least things of the earth, and they are wiser than the wise.There are foure the least thinges of the earth, and they are wiser then the wise.Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus :
25The ants, a weak people, which prepareth in the harvest meat for themselves:The antes, a weake people, which prepareth in the haruest meate for themselues:formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi ;
26The lepusculus: a young hare, a people not strong, which placeth his bed in the rock:The leueret, a people not strong, which placeth his bed in the rocke:lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum ;
27The locust hath no king, and they go out all by their troops:The locust hath no king, and they go out al by their troopes:regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas ;
28The stellio: a spotted lizard stayeth on his hands, and tarrieth in kings' houses.The stellion stayeth on his handes, & tarieth in kings houses.stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
29There are three things which go well, and the fourth that goeth happily.There are three thinges which go wel, and the fourth that goeth happely.Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter :
30The lion, the strongest of beasts shall fear at the meeting of none:The lyon, the strongest of beastes shal feare at the meeting of none:leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum ;
31the cock girded about the loins, and the ram: also the king, against whom none can resist.the cocke gyrded about the loines, and the ramme: also the king, against whom none can resist.gallus succinctus lumbos ; et aries ; nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
32There is that hath appeared a fool after that he was lifted up on high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his mouth.There is that hath appeared a foole after that he was lifted vp on high: for if he had vnderstood, he would haue layd his hand vpon his mouth.✦Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime ; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.
33And he that strongly presseth the ubera: the teats, the udder to wring out milk, straineth out butter, and he that violently cleanseth his nose, wringeth out blood: and he that provoketh angers, bringeth forth discords.And he that strongly presseth the pappes to wring out milke, strayneth out butter, and he that violently cleanceth his nose, wringeth out bloud: & he that prouoketh angers, bringeth forth discordes.✦Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum ; et qui vehementer emungit elicit sanguinem ; et qui provocat iras producit discordias.
Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament
1The words of the Gatherer. Some Interpreters take these four Hebrew words, Agur, Jache, Ithiel, and Ual, contained in this first verse, to be proper names of men, supposing that a certain wiseman named Agur, the son of Jache, spake the sentences following in this chapter, to his sons or scholars, called Ithiel and Ual. And so this supposed Agur, not Salomon, should be the author of this chapter. But the old Interpreter, whom S. Jerome approveth and followeth, translated the same words as nouns appellative. Neither doth any ancient Father account this Agur amongst the writers of holy Scriptures. And if there were a peculiar author of this chapter, it is like the same should have been placed last, and not before that which now followeth, and is by all men confessed to be Salomon's. And therefore we think it more probable, with S. Bede, and the common opinion, that there was no other author of any part of this book, besides King Salomon. Who is here called CONGREGANS, the Gatherer, because he gathered these excellent Parables and Proverbs; as the son of the Holy Ghost, signified by the word JACHE, pouring forth divine sentences, for instruction of ITHIEL and UCAL, that is, of all those with whom God is by his grace, and who are strengthened by God abiding with them.The wordes of the Gatherer. Some Interpreters take these foure Hebrew wordes, Agur, Iache, Ithiel, and Ual, conteined in this first verse, to be proper names of men, supposing that a certaine wiseman named Agur, the sonne of Iache, spake the sentences folowing in this chapter, to his sonnes or schollars, called Ithiel & Ual. And so this supposed Agur, not Salomon, should be the auctor of this chapter. But the old Interpreter, whom S. Ierom approueth and foloweth, translated the same wordes as nounes appellatiues. Neither doth anie ancient Father account this Agur, amongst the writers of holie Scriptures. And if there were a peculiar auctor of this chapter, it is like the same should haue bene placed last, and not before that which now foloweth, and is by al men confessed to be Salomons. And therfore we thinke it more probable, with S. Beda, and the common opinion, that there was no other auctor of anie part of this booke, besides King Salomon. VVho is here called CONGREGANS, the Gatherer, because he gathered these excellent Parables, and Prouerbes; as the sonne of the Holie Ghost, signified by the word IACHE, povvring forth diuine sentences, for instruction of ITHIEL & VCAL, that is, of al those vvith vvhom God is by his grace, and vvho are strengthened by God abiding vvith them.
23A bondwoman when she shall be heir. Of all things in this world, it seemeth most absurd that heresy doth domineer over Catholic religion: which God sometimes, and in some places, suffereth, for the greater merit of his elect.A bond woman when she shal be heyre. Of al thinges in this world, it semeth most absurde, that heresie doth dominiere ouer Catholique religion: vvhich God some times, and in some places suffereth, for the greater merite of his elect.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.