Proverbs 26
1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
誉が愚かな者にふさわしくないのは、夏に雪が降り、刈入れの時に雨が降るようなものだ。
2 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.
いわれのないのろいは、飛びまわるすずめや、飛びかけるつばめのようなもので、止まらない。
3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
馬のためにはむちがあり、ろばのためにはくつわがあり、愚かな者の背のためにはつえがある。
4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
愚かな者にその愚かさにしたがって答をするな、自分も彼と同じようにならないためだ。
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
愚かな者にその愚かさにしたがって答をせよ、彼が自分の目に自らを知恵ある者と見ないためだ。
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
愚かな者に託して事を言い送る者は、自分の足を切り去り、身に害をうける。
7 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.
あしなえの足は用がない、愚かな者の口には箴言もそれにひとしい。
8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
誉を愚かな者に与えるのは、石を石投げにつなぐようだ。
9 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.
愚かな者の口に箴言があるのは、酔った者が、とげのあるつえを手で振り上げるようだ。
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
通りがかりの愚か者や、酔った者を雇う者は、すべての人を傷つける射手のようだ。
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
犬が帰って来てその吐いた物を食べるように、愚かな者はその愚かさをくり返す。
12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
自分の目に自らを知恵ある者とする人を、あなたは見るか、彼よりもかえって愚かな人に望みがある。
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
なまけ者は、「道にししがいる、ちまたにししがいる」という。
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
戸がちょうつがいによって回るように、なまけ者はその寝床で寝返りをする。
15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
なまけ者は手を皿に入れても、それを口に持ってゆくことをいとう。
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
なまけ者は自分の目に、良く答えることのできる七人の者よりも、自らを知恵ありとする。
17 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.
自分に関係のない争いにたずさわる者は、通りすぎる犬の耳をとらえる者のようだ。
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
隣り人を欺いて、「わたしはただ戯れにした」という者は、燃え木または矢、または死を、投げつける気違いのようだ。
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
たきぎがなければ火は消え、人のよしあしを言う者がなければ争いはやむ。
21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
おき火に炭をつぎ、火にたきぎをくべるように、争いを好む人は争いの火をおこす。
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
人のよしあしをいう者の言葉はおいしい食物のようで、腹の奥にしみこむ。
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
くちびるはなめらかであっても、心の悪いのは上ぐすりをかけた土の器のようだ。
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
憎む者はくちびるをもって自ら飾るけれども、心のうちには偽りをいだく。
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
彼が声をやわらげて語っても、信じてはならない。その心に七つの憎むべきものがあるからだ。
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
たとい偽りをもってその憎しみをかくしても、彼の悪は会衆の中に現れる。
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
穴を掘る者は自らその中に陥る、石をまろばしあげる者の上に、その石はまろびかえる。
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
偽りの舌は自分が傷つけた者を憎み、へつらう口は滅びをきたらせる。
