Proverbiorum 26
1 Quomodo nix in aestate, et pluviae in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
2 Sicut avis ad alta transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him.
5 Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought.
11 Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leaena in itineribus:
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixae alterius.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescunt.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius.
Though [thine] enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
