< מִשְׁלֵי 26 >
כשלג בקיץ--וכמטר בקציר כן לא-נאוה לכסיל כבוד | 1 |
As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to a fool.
כצפור לנוד כדרור לעוף-- כן קללת חנם לא (לו) תבא | 2 |
As the bird [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
שוט לסוס מתג לחמור ושבט לגו כסילים | 3 |
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
אל-תען כסיל כאולתו פן-תשוה-לו גם-אתה | 4 |
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal unto him.
ענה כסיל כאולתו פן-יהיה חכם בעיניו | 5 |
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
מקצה רגלים חמס שתה-- שלח דברים ביד-כסיל | 6 |
He choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
דליו שקים מפסח ומשל בפי כסילים | 7 |
Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
כצרור אבן במרגמה-- כן-נותן לכסיל כבוד | 8 |
As is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
חוח עלה ביד-שכור ומשל בפי כסילים | 9 |
[As] a thorn that is come into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
רב מחולל-כל ושכר כסיל ושכר עברים | 10 |
A master injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
ככלב שב על-קאו-- כסיל שונה באולתו | 11 |
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in his folly.
ראית--איש חכם בעיניו תקוה לכסיל ממנו | 12 |
When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for him.
אמר עצל שחל בדרך ארי בין הרחבות | 13 |
The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
הדלת תסוב על-צירה ועצל על-מטתו | 14 |
As a door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
טמן עצל ידו בצלחת נלאה להשיבה אל-פיו | 15 |
Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back again to his mouth.
חכם עצל בעיניו-- משבעה משיבי טעם | 16 |
The slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
מחזיק באזני-כלב-- עבר מתעבר על-ריב לא-לו | 17 |
As is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
כמתלהלה הירה זקים-- חצים ומות | 18 |
As one fatigueth himself shooting off firebrands, arrows, and death:
כן-איש רמה את-רעהו ואמר הלא-משחק אני | 19 |
So is the man that hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
באפס עצים תכבה-אש ובאין נרגן ישתק מדון | 20 |
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
פחם לגחלים ועצים לאש ואיש מדונים (מדינים) לחרחר-ריב | 21 |
As charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
דברי נרגן כמתלהמים והם ירדו חדרי-בטן | 22 |
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
כסף סיגים מצפה על-חרש-- שפתים דלקים ולב-רע | 23 |
Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
בשפתו ינכר שונא ובקרבו ישית מרמה | 24 |
With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
כי-יחנן קולו אל-תאמן-בו כי שבע תועבות בלבו | 25 |
Though he make his voice sound ever so graciously, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
תכסה שנאה במשאון תגלה רעתו בקהל | 26 |
If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
כרה-שחת בה יפול וגולל אבן אליו תשוב | 27 |
Whoso diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
לשון-שקר ישנא דכיו ופה חלק יעשה מדחה | 28 |
A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.