Proverbiorum 26
1 quomodo nix aestate et pluvia in messe sic indecens est stulto gloria
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
2 sicut avis ad alia transvolans et passer quolibet vadens sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet
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.
3 flagellum equo et camus asino et virga dorso inprudentium
A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne efficiaris ei similis
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne sibi sapiens esse videatur
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 claudus pedibus et iniquitatem bibens qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola
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.
8 sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti sic parabola in ore stultorum
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.
10 iudicium determinat causas et qui inponit stulto silentium iras mitigat
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum sic inprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri magis illo spem habebit stultus
Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 dicit piger leaena in via leo in itineribus
The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo ita piger in lectulo suo
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 abscondit piger manus sub ascellas suas et laborat si ad os suum eas converterit
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 sicut qui adprehendit auribus canem sic qui transit et inpatiens commiscetur rixae alterius
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.
18 sicut noxius est qui mittit lanceas et sagittas et mortem
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 sic vir qui fraudulenter nocet amico suo et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit ludens feci
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis et susurrone subtracto iurgia conquiescunt
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 sicut carbones ad prunam et ligna ad ignem sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
22 verba susurronis quasi simplicia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris
The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 quando submiserit vocem suam ne credideris ei quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 qui operit odium fraudulenter revelabitur malitia eius in concilio
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
27 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 lingua fallax non amat veritatem et os lubricum operatur ruinas
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
