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