Proverbs 26
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
quomodo nix aestate et pluvia in messe sic indecens est stulto gloria
2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
sicut avis ad alia transvolans et passer quolibet vadens sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
flagellum equo et camus asino et virga dorso inprudentium
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him.
ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne efficiaris ei similis
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne sibi sapiens esse videatur
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
claudus pedibus et iniquitatem bibens qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum
7 [As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola
8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem
9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti sic parabola in ore stultorum
10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought.
iudicium determinat causas et qui inponit stulto silentium iras mitigat
11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum sic inprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam
12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri magis illo spem habebit stultus
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
dicit piger leaena in via leo in itineribus
14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo ita piger in lectulo suo
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
abscondit piger manus sub ascellas suas et laborat si ad os suum eas converterit
16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias
17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
sicut qui adprehendit auribus canem sic qui transit et inpatiens commiscetur rixae alterius
18 As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
sicut noxius est qui mittit lanceas et sagittas et mortem
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
sic vir qui fraudulenter nocet amico suo et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit ludens feci
20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis et susurrone subtracto iurgia conquiescunt
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
sicut carbones ad prunam et ligna ad ignem sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
verba susurronis quasi simplicia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata
24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos
25 Though [thine] enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
quando submiserit vocem suam ne credideris ei quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius
26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
qui operit odium fraudulenter revelabitur malitia eius in concilio
27 He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum
28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
lingua fallax non amat veritatem et os lubricum operatur ruinas
