Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ 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 in dorso imprudentium.
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
Ne respondeas stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Responde stulto juxta 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.
Judicium determinat causas, et qui imponit 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 imprudens 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 insipiens.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leæna 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 manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam 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 apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens et commiscetur rixæ alterius.
18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas et lanceas in mortem,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
ita vir 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, jurgia conquiescent.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
Sicut carbones ad prunas, 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 intelligitur 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 nequitiæ 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 ejus in consilio.
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.
