Olcueih 26
1 Khohal kah vuelsong neh cangah vaengkah khotlan baghui la, thangpomnah khaw hlang ang neh rhoeprhui tangloeng pawh.
As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to a fool.
2 Vaa a rhaehba bangla, pumpil a ding bangla, rhunkhuennah he lunglilungla la a thoeng moenih.
As the bird [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
3 Marhang ham rhuihet, laak ham kamrhui, aka ang rhoek kah a nam ham cungcik om.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Hlang ang kah a anglat te doo boeh, namah khaw anih bangla na om ve.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal unto him.
5 Hlang ang te a anglat bangla a doo dae, a mikhmuh ah hlang cueih la om hae mahpawh.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Hlang ang kut ah ol aka pat tah a kho a kuet tih kuthlahnah aka mam la om.
He choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
7 Aka khaem kah a kho sut a bat banghui la, hlang ang rhoek ka kah thuidoeknah he khaw om.
Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Hlang ang taengah thangpomnah paek he, payai dongah lungto mop banghui la om tangloeng.
As is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 Hlang ang ka kah thuidoeknah he khaw yurhui kut dongah aka pha mutlo hling bangla om.
[As] a thorn that is come into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Hlang ang aka paang boeih khaw aka cetpaitai a paang tih lithen a poeih banghui la om.
A master injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
11 Ui loh a lok a paan banghui la hlang ang loh a anglat te a khoep.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in his folly.
12 Hlang he amah mikhmuh ah tah aka cueih la na hmuh. Anih lakah hlang ang ham ngaiuepnah om ta.
When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Kolhnaw loh, “Longpuei ah sathueng ca, toltung ah sathueng om,” a ti.
The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
14 thohkhaih loh thohrhui dongah a tinghil bangla, kolhnaw khaw amah thingkong dongah suvaih.
As a door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 Kolhnaw loh bael dongah a kut a puei te, a ka dongla koep a khuen ham pataeng a ngak.
Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back again to his mouth.
16 Kolhnaw he amah mikhmuh ah tah, omih neh aka thuung hlang parhih lakah aka cueih la ngaiuh.
The slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
17 Amah hut pawt ah tuituknah khuiah aka kun khaw, aka cetpaitai loh ui hna a doek banghui la om.
As is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
18 Thaltang neh dueknah hmaipom aka dong loh hlang a khah bangla,
As one fatigueth himself shooting off firebrands, arrows, and death:
19 A hui aka phok hlang van loh, “Ka luem mailai moenih a?,” a ti.
So is the man that hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
20 Thing a tlum atah hmai a thi bangla a thet pawt daengah ni olpungkacan a paa.
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
21 Hmai-alh dongah hmaisa-aek, hmai dongah thing a pup vanbangla, hohmuhnah neh olpungkacan aka saii hlang loh tuituknah a puek sak.
As charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
22 Thet ol he didii tih bungko khui la suntla.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
23 Lungbuei thae neh a lai hmai la aka alh tah, paikaek dongkah cakhli a ben banghui ni.
Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
24 A hmuilai dongkah a hmuhuet te a ka dongah loha coeng dae, a khui kah hlangthai palat te a thuh bal pueng.
With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
25 A ol tah rhen koemboei la om dae, anih te tangnah boeh. A lungbuei ah tueilaehkoi parhih om.
Though he make his voice sound ever so graciously, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 hmuhuetnah te thailainah neh dah cakhaw, hlangping taengah a boethae ni a yan eh.
If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
27 Vaam aka vuet khaw amah loh a cungku thil vetih, lungto aka palet khaw amah soah koep mael ni.
Whoso diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
28 Laithae ol loh amah aka hnaep aka hnap te a hmuhuet tih, a ka aka hnal khaw a ponah ni a saii.
A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
