Proverbiorum 26
1 Quomodo nix in aestate, et pluviae in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 Sicut avis ad alta transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
3 Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the 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 also be like unto him.
5 Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leaena in itineribus:
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
17 Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixae alterius.
He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescunt.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius.
when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
