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 honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 Kakor ptica s potepanjem, kakor lastovka z letenjem, tako prekletstvo brez razloga ne bo prišlo.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
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 eyes.
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 damage.
7 Nogi hromega nista enaki; takšna je prispodoba v ustih bedakov.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Kakor kdor poveže kamen v pračo, tak je, kdor daje čast bedaku.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Kakor gre trn v roko pijanca, taka je prispodoba v ustih bedakov.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Velik Bog, ki je ustvaril vse stvari, nagrajuje tako bedaka kakor prestopnike.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 Kakor se pes vrača k svojemu izbljuvku, tako se bedak vrača k svoji neumnosti.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Ali vidiš modrega človeka v njegovi lastni domišljavosti? Več upanja je za bedaka kakor zanj.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? 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 fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 Kakor se vrata obračajo na svojih tečajih, tako se leni na svoji postelji.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so 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.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
17 Kdor gre mimo in se vmešava v prepir, ki mu ne pripada, je podoben tistemu, ki psa zgrabi za ušesa.
He that passing by 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 a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Kjer ni nobenega lesa, tam ogenj poide. Tako, kjer ni tožljivca, prepir preneha.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Kakor je oglje za vročo žerjavico in drva za ogenj, tako je prepirljiv človek za podžiganje prepira.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for 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 talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Goreče ustnice in zlobno srce sta podobna črepinji, pokriti s srebrovo žlindro.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] 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 his voice is gracious, 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 is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
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 that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
