Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
quomodo nix aestate et pluvia in messe sic indecens est stulto gloria
2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
sicut avis ad alia transvolans et passer quolibet vadens sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
flagellum equo et camus asino et virga dorso inprudentium
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne efficiaris ei similis
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne sibi sapiens esse videatur
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
claudus pedibus et iniquitatem bibens qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola
8 As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem
9 Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti sic parabola in ore stultorum
10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
iudicium determinat causas et qui inponit stulto silentium iras mitigat
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum sic inprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri magis illo spem habebit stultus
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
dicit piger leaena in via leo in itineribus
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo ita piger in lectulo suo
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
abscondit piger manus sub ascellas suas et laborat si ad os suum eas converterit
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias
17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
sicut qui adprehendit auribus canem sic qui transit et inpatiens commiscetur rixae alterius
18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
sicut noxius est qui mittit lanceas et sagittas et mortem
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
sic vir qui fraudulenter nocet amico suo et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit ludens feci
20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis et susurrone subtracto iurgia conquiescunt
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
sicut carbones ad prunam et ligna ad ignem sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
verba susurronis quasi simplicia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos
25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
quando submiserit vocem suam ne credideris ei quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius
26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
qui operit odium fraudulenter revelabitur malitia eius in concilio
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
lingua fallax non amat veritatem et os lubricum operatur ruinas
