Proverbiorum 26
1 Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
2 Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
3 Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
5 Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
7 Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
8 Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
11 Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus:
The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
16 Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
17 Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixæ alterius.
As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
18 Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:
19 ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
20 Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescent.
When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
21 Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
22 Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
24 Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
25 Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.
When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
26 Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
27 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
28 Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
