Liber Proverbiorum, 26

1. Quomodo nix in aestate et pluvia in messe, sic indecens est stulto gloria.

1. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2. Sicut avis ad alia transvolans et hirundo volitans, sic maledictum frustra prolatum non superveniet.

2. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.

3. Flagellum equo et camus asino et virga dorso stultorum.

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

4. Ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne tu quoque efficiaris ei similis;

4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

5. responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.

5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6. Amputat sibi pedes et iniuriam bibit, qui mittit verba per manum stulti.

6. He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7. Quomodo molles claudo tibiae, sic in ore stultorum parabola.

7. Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8. Sicut qui celat lapidem in acervo, ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.

8. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.

9. Spina crescens in manu temulenti, sic parabola in ore stultorum.

9. Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10. Sagittarius, qui conicit ad omnia, ita qui stultum conducit et qui vagos conducit.

10. Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

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

11. Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly.

12. Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? Magis illo spem habebit stultus.

12. 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 est in via, et leo in plateis”.

13. The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"

14. Ostium vertitur in cardine suo, et piger in lectulo suo.

14. As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

15. Abscondit piger manum in catino et laborat, si ad os suum eam converterit.

15. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16. Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris respondentibus sententias.

16. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer discreetly.

17. Apprehendit auribus canem, qui transiens commiscetur rixae alterius.

17. He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

18. Sicut insanit, qui mittit sagittas et lanceas in mortem,

18. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

19. ita vir, qui decipit amicum suum et dicit: “Nonne ludens feci?”.

19. is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"

20. Cum defecerint ligna, exstinguetur ignis, et, susurrone subtracto, iurgia conquiescent.

20. For lack of wood the fire goes out; and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

21. Sicut carbones ad prunas et ligna ad ignem, sic homo litigiosus ad inflammandas rixas.

21. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22. Verba susurronis quasi dulcia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.

22. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23. Sicut argentum sordidum ornans vas fictile, sic labia levia et cor malum.

23. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.

24. Labiis suis se dissimulabit inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos:

24. He who hates, dissembles with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;

25. quando mollierit vocem suam, ne credideris ei, quoniam septem abominationes sunt in corde illius;

25. when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;

26. operiet odium fraudulenter, revelabitur autem malitia eius in concilio.

26. though his hatred be covered with guile, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

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

27. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling.

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

28. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.