Proverbs 26
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ 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 quo libet 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 in dorso imprudentium.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you 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 nuncium 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 nothing.
Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit 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 imprudens, 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 insipiens.
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: Leo est in via, et leæna 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 manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam 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 apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixæ 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 sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
ita vir, 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 conquiescent.
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [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 intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
25 Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiæ 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 consilio.
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.
