Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
8 Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
9 Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus:
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixæ alterius.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescent.
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
