Pregovori 26
1 Kakor sneg poleti in kakor dež ob času žetve, tako se čast ne poda bedaku.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 Kakor ptica s potepanjem, kakor lastovka z letenjem, tako prekletstvo brez razloga ne bo prišlo.
As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.
3 Bič za konja, uzda za osla in palica za hrbet bedaka.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Bedaku ne odgovori glede na njegovo neumnost, da ne bi bil tudi ti podoben njemu.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Odgovori bedaku glede na njegovo neumnost, da on ne bi bil moder v svoji lastni domišljavosti.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 Kdor pošilja sporočilo po roki bedaka, si odseka stopala in pije škodo.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.
7 Nogi hromega nista enaki; takšna je prispodoba v ustih bedakov.
The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Kakor kdor poveže kamen v pračo, tak je, kdor daje čast bedaku.
As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 Kakor gre trn v roko pijanca, taka je prispodoba v ustih bedakov.
[As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Velik Bog, ki je ustvaril vse stvari, nagrajuje tako bedaka kakor prestopnike.
[As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 Kakor se pes vrača k svojemu izbljuvku, tako se bedak vrača k svoji neumnosti.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Ali vidiš modrega človeka v njegovi lastni domišljavosti? Več upanja je za bedaka kakor zanj.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Len človek pravi: » Tam je lev na poti, lev je na ulicah.«
The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
14 Kakor se vrata obračajo na svojih tečajih, tako se leni na svoji postelji.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Leni skriva svojo roko v svojem naročju, žalosti ga, da jo ponovno prinese k svojim ustom.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Lenuh je modrejši v svoji lastni domišljavosti, kakor sedem mož, ki lahko izkažejo razlog.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.
17 Kdor gre mimo in se vmešava v prepir, ki mu ne pripada, je podoben tistemu, ki psa zgrabi za ušesa.
He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Kakor zmešan človek, ki meče kose tlečega lesa, puščice in smrt,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
19 tak je človek, ki zavaja svojega bližnjega in pravi: »Ali nisem na zabavi?«
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Kjer ni nobenega lesa, tam ogenj poide. Tako, kjer ni tožljivca, prepir preneha.
For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 Kakor je oglje za vročo žerjavico in drva za ogenj, tako je prepirljiv človek za podžiganje prepira.
[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Besede tožljivca so kakor rane in gredo navzdol v najnotranjejše dele trebuha.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Goreče ustnice in zlobno srce sta podobna črepinji, pokriti s srebrovo žlindro.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Kdor sovraži, prikriva s svojimi ustnicami in znotraj sebe shranjuje prevaro;
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:
25 kadar govori lepo, mu ne verjemi, kajti sedem ogabnosti je v njegovem srcu.
When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26 Čigar sovraštvo je pokrito s prevaro, bo njegova zlobnost razkazana pred celotno skupnostjo.
Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
27 Kdorkoli koplje jamo, bo padel vanjo, in kdor vali kamen, se bo le-ta vrnil nadenj.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Lažniv jezik sovraži tiste, ki so prizadeti z njim in prilizovanje ust dela propad.
A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
