Proverbios 26
1 Como la nieve en el verano, y la lluvia durante la siega, así cuadran al necio los honores.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
2 Como el pájaro que escapa y como la golondrina en vuelo, así es la maldición injusta: no se cumple.
Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
3 El látigo para el caballo, el cabestro para el asno, y la vara para las espaldas del insensato.
A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 No respondas al necio según su necedad, para que no te hagas semejante a él.
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Responde al necio como su necesidad se merece, para que no se considere como sabio.
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Quien despacha los negocios por medio de un tonto, es como el que se corta los pies y padece daño.
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 Como al cojo le bambolean las piernas, así es el proverbio en la boca del necio.
In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
8 Dar honra a un necio es como ligar la piedra a la honda.
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 Una espina que se clava en la mano de un borracho, eso es el proverbio en la boca del fatuo.
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
10 Como arquero que hiere a todos, así es el que toma a sueldo a necios y vagabundos.
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 Como perro que vuelve sobre su vómito, así es el necio que repite sus necedades.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 Si ves a un hombre que se tiene por sabio, confía más en un loco que en él.
Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 Dice el perezoso: “Hay un león en el camino, en las calles está un león.”
The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 La puerta gira sobre su quicio, y sobre su cama el haragán.
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 El perezoso mete su mano en el plato, pero le da fatiga el llevarla a la boca.
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 Se imagina el perezoso ser más sabio que siete que saben dar respuestas prudentes.
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 Agarra un perro por las orejas quien, al pasar, se mete en riñas de otros.
Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
18 Como el loco que arroja llamas, saetas y muerte,
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 así es el que engaña a su prójimo, y le dice luego: “Solo lo hice por broma.”
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 Faltando la leña, se apaga el fuego; así también, si no hay chismoso, cesa la discordia.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 Como el carbón para las brasas y la leña para el fuego, así es, el rencilloso para atizar contiendas.
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
22 Las palabras del chismoso son como golosinas, mas penetran hasta lo más hondo de las entrañas.
The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 Como barniz de plata sobre vasija de barro, así son los labios lisonjeros y un corazón ruin.
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 El que odia disfraza sus labios, pero en su interior maquina engaños.
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 Cuando habla en tono suavísimo, no te fíes de él; pues en su corazón abriga siete abominaciones.
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 Esconde su odio con disimulo; mas su falsía será descubierta en pública asamblea.
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
27 El que cava una fosa, cae en ella, y la piedra se echa encima del que la hace rodar.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 La lengua mentirosa odia a quienes hirió, y la boca lisonjera es causa de la ruina.
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
