Proverbs 26
1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
quomodo nix aestate et pluvia in messe sic indecens est stulto gloria
2 Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
sicut avis ad alia transvolans et passer quolibet vadens sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet
3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
flagellum equo et camus asino et virga dorso inprudentium
4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne efficiaris ei similis
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne sibi sapiens esse videatur
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
claudus pedibus et iniquitatem bibens qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum
7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola
8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem
9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti sic parabola in ore stultorum
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
iudicium determinat causas et qui inponit stulto silentium iras mitigat
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum sic inprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam
12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri magis illo spem habebit stultus
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
dicit piger leaena in via leo in itineribus
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo ita piger in lectulo suo
15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
abscondit piger manus sub ascellas suas et laborat si ad os suum eas converterit
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias
17 Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
sicut qui adprehendit auribus canem sic qui transit et inpatiens commiscetur rixae alterius
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
sicut noxius est qui mittit lanceas et sagittas et mortem
19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
sic vir qui fraudulenter nocet amico suo et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit ludens feci
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis et susurrone subtracto iurgia conquiescunt
21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
sicut carbones ad prunam et ligna ad ignem sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
verba susurronis quasi simplicia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
quando submiserit vocem suam ne credideris ei quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
qui operit odium fraudulenter revelabitur malitia eius in concilio
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
lingua fallax non amat veritatem et os lubricum operatur ruinas
