Proverbs 26

1As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.

Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe, sic indecens est stulto gloria.

2As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.

Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quolibet vadens, sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.

3A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.

Ne respondeas stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.

Responde stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.

6He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.

Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum.

7As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.

Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias, sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.

8As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii, ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.

9As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti, sic parabola in ore stultorum.

10Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.

Judicium determinat causas, et qui imponit stulto silentium iras mitigat.

11As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.

Sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam.

12Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.

Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.

13The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.

Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus.

14As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

Sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.

15The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.

Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.

Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.

17As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.

Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens et commiscetur rixæ alterius.

18As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death.

Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas et lanceas in mortem,

19So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.

ita vir fraudulenter nocet amico suo, et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit: Ludens feci.

20When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.

Cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis, et susurrone subtracto, jurgia conquiescent.

21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.

Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.

22The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.

Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.

23Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.

Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.

24An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.

Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.

25When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.

Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei, quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.

26He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.

Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia ejus in consilio.

27He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.

Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum.

28A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.

Lingua fallax non amat veritatem, et os lubricum operatur ruinas.