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