Proverbiorum 26
1 quomodo nix aestate et pluvia 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 quolibet 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 dorso inprudentium
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 nuntium 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 inponit 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 inprudens 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 stultus
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
13 dicit piger leaena in via leo 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 manus sub ascellas suas et laborat si ad os suum eas 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 adprehendit auribus canem sic qui transit et inpatiens commiscetur rixae 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 lanceas et sagittas et mortem
As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
19 sic vir qui 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 conquiescunt
Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
21 sicut carbones ad prunam 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 intellegitur 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 nequitiae 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 concilio
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.
