Proverbiorum 26
1 Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe: sic indecens est stulto gloria.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
2 Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quo libet vadens: sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
3 Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
4 Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
5 Responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuncium stultum.
One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
7 Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias: sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
8 Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii: ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
9 Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti: sic parabola in ore stultorum.
A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
10 Iudicium determinat causas: et qui imponit stulto silentium, iras mitigat.
[As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
11 Sicut canis, qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens, qui iterat stultitiam suam.
As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
12 Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
13 Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus:
Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
15 Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
17 Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens, et commiscetur rixæ alterius.
As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!
18 Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas, et lanceas in mortem:
As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
19 ita vir, fraudulenter nocet amico suo: et cum fuerit deprehensus, dicit: Ludens feci.
So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
20 Cum defecerint ligna, extinguetur ignis: et susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescent.
Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
21 Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
22 Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
23 Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
24 Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
25 Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei: quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.
Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
26 Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia eius in consilio.
Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
27 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui volvit lapidem, revertetur ad eum.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
28 Lingua fallax non amat veritatem: et os lubricum operatur ruinas.
A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
