Proverbiorum 26
1 Quomodo nix in aestate, et pluviae in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Sicut avis ad alta transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
Do you see a man 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 leaena in itineribus:
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixae alterius.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescunt.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
