Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
Quomodo nix in aestate, et pluviae in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
2 As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
Sicut avis ad alta transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back of fools.
Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him.
Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
5 Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
7 Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
10 Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
12 Do you see someone 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leaena in itineribus:
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
15 The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
16 The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
17 Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixae alterius.
18 Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
19 is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
20 For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescunt.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
23 Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
24 One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
25 He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius.
26 Though his hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
28 A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
