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 honour [is] not comely for a fool.
2 sicut avis ad alia transvolans et passer quolibet vadens sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3 flagellum equo et camus asino et virga dorso inprudentium
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne efficiaris ei similis
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
5 responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne sibi sapiens esse videatur
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 claudus pedibus et iniquitatem bibens qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti sic parabola in ore stultorum
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 iudicium determinat causas et qui inponit stulto silentium iras mitigat
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum sic inprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri magis illo spem habebit stultus
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 dicit piger leaena in via leo in itineribus
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo ita piger in lectulo suo
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 abscondit piger manus sub ascellas suas et laborat si ad os suum eas converterit
The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 sicut qui adprehendit auribus canem sic qui transit et inpatiens commiscetur rixae alterius
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 sicut noxius est qui mittit lanceas et sagittas et mortem
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 sic vir qui fraudulenter nocet amico suo et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit ludens feci
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis et susurrone subtracto iurgia conquiescunt
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 sicut carbones ad prunam et ligna ad ignem sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 verba susurronis quasi simplicia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 quando submiserit vocem suam ne credideris ei quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius
When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 qui operit odium fraudulenter revelabitur malitia eius in concilio
Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 lingua fallax non amat veritatem et os lubricum operatur ruinas
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
