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 [is] not comely for a fool.
2 Sicut avis ad alta transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3 Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
A whip is for a horse, a bridle 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 like to him — even thou.
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 is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leaena in itineribus:
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixae alterius.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescunt.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius.
When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
