< Proverbs 26 >

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.
Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
6 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
7 Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
9 A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
10 Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
11 As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating 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 eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus:
14 The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
15 The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixæ alterius.
18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
19 So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
20 Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescent.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
22 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
24 By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
25 When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
27 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
28 A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.

< Proverbs 26 >