Proverbiorum 26
1 quomodo nix aestate et pluvia in messe sic indecens est stulto gloria
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 sicut avis ad alia transvolans et passer quolibet vadens sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 flagellum equo et camus asino et virga dorso inprudentium
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne efficiaris ei similis
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne sibi sapiens esse videatur
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 claudus pedibus et iniquitatem bibens qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti sic parabola in ore stultorum
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 iudicium determinat causas et qui inponit stulto silentium iras mitigat
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum sic inprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri magis illo spem habebit stultus
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 dicit piger leaena in via leo in itineribus
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo ita piger in lectulo suo
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 abscondit piger manus sub ascellas suas et laborat si ad os suum eas converterit
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 sicut qui adprehendit auribus canem sic qui transit et inpatiens commiscetur rixae alterius
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 sicut noxius est qui mittit lanceas et sagittas et mortem
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 sic vir qui fraudulenter nocet amico suo et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit ludens feci
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis et susurrone subtracto iurgia conquiescunt
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 sicut carbones ad prunam et ligna ad ignem sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 verba susurronis quasi simplicia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 quando submiserit vocem suam ne credideris ei quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 qui operit odium fraudulenter revelabitur malitia eius in concilio
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 lingua fallax non amat veritatem et os lubricum operatur ruinas
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
