Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
Quomodo nix in aestate, et pluviae in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
Sicut avis ad alta transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
4 Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
5 Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
6 One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
10 [As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leaena in itineribus:
14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
16 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
17 As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!
Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixae alterius.
18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescunt.
21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
22 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius.
26 Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
28 A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
