Proverbs 26

As 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.

ὥσπερ δρόσος ἐν ἀμήτῳ καὶ ὥσπερ ὑετὸς ἐν θέρει οὕτως οὐκ ἔστιν ἄφρονι τιμή

As 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.

ὥσπερ ὄρνεα πέταται καὶ στρουθοί οὕτως ἀρὰ ματαία οὐκ ἐπελεύσεται οὐδενί

A 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.

ὥσπερ μάστιξ ἵππῳ καὶ κέντρον ὄνῳ οὕτως ῥάβδος ἔθνει παρανόμῳ

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

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

μὴ ἀποκρίνου ἄφρονι πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνου ἀφροσύνην ἵνα μὴ ὅμοιος γένῃ αὐτῷ

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

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

ἀλλὰ ἀποκρίνου ἄφρονι κατὰ τὴν ἀφροσύνην αὐτοῦ ἵνα μὴ φαίνηται σοφὸς παρ' ἑαυτῷ

He 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.

ἐκ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ποδῶν ὄνειδος πίεται ὁ ἀποστείλας δι' ἀγγέλου ἄφρονος λόγον

As 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.

ἀφελοῦ πορείαν σκελῶν καὶ παροιμίαν ἐκ στόματος ἀφρόνων

As 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.

ὃς ἀποδεσμεύει λίθον ἐν σφενδόνῃ ὅμοιός ἐστιν τῷ διδόντι ἄφρονι δόξαν

As 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.

ἄκανθαι φύονται ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ μεθύσου δουλεία δὲ ἐν χειρὶ τῶν ἀφρόνων

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

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

πολλὰ χειμάζεται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἀφρόνων συντρίβεται γὰρ ἡ ἔκστασις αὐτῶν

As 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.

ὥσπερ κύων ὅταν ἐπέλθῃ ἐπὶ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἔμετον καὶ μισητὸς γένηται οὕτως ἄφρων τῇ ἑαυτοῦ κακίᾳ ἀναστρέψας ἐπὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίαν ἔστιν αἰσχύνη ἐπάγουσα ἁμαρτίαν καὶ ἔστιν αἰσχύνη δόξα καὶ χάρις

Hast 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.

εἶδον ἄνδρα δόξαντα παρ' ἑαυτῷ σοφὸν εἶναι ἐλπίδα μέντοι ἔσχεν μᾶλλον ἄφρων αὐτοῦ

The 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.

λέγει ὀκνηρὸς ἀποστελλόμενος εἰς ὁδόν λέων ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς

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

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

ὥσπερ θύρα στρέφεται ἐπὶ τοῦ στρόφιγγος οὕτως ὀκνηρὸς ἐπὶ τῆς κλίνης αὐτοῦ

The 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.

κρύψας ὀκνηρὸς τὴν χεῖρα ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτοῦ οὐ δυνήσεται ἐπενεγκεῖν ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα

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

Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.

σοφώτερος ἑαυτῷ ὀκνηρὸς φαίνεται τοῦ ἐν πλησμονῇ ἀποκομίζοντος ἀγγελίαν

As 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.

ὥσπερ ὁ κρατῶν κέρκου κυνός οὕτως ὁ προεστὼς ἀλλοτρίας κρίσεως

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

Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas et lanceas in mortem,

ὥσπερ οἱ ἰώμενοι προβάλλουσιν λόγους εἰς ἀνθρώπους ὁ δὲ ἀπαντήσας τῷ λόγῳ πρῶτος ὑποσκελισθήσεται

So 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.

οὕτως πάντες οἱ ἐνεδρεύοντες τοὺς ἑαυτῶν φίλους ὅταν δὲ φωραθῶσιν λέγουσιν ὅτι παίζων ἔπραξα

When 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.

ἐν πολλοῖς ξύλοις θάλλει πῦρ ὅπου δὲ οὐκ ἔστιν δίθυμος ἡσυχάζει μάχη

As 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.

ἐσχάρα ἄνθραξιν καὶ ξύλα πυρί ἀνὴρ δὲ λοίδορος εἰς ταραχὴν μάχης

The 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.

λόγοι κερκώπων μαλακοί οὗτοι δὲ τύπτουσιν εἰς ταμίεια σπλάγχνων

Swelling 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.

ἀργύριον διδόμενον μετὰ δόλου ὥσπερ ὄστρακον ἡγητέον χείλη λεῖα καρδίαν καλύπτει λυπηράν

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

Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.

χείλεσιν πάντα ἐπινεύει ἀποκλαιόμενος ἐχθρός ἐν δὲ τῇ καρδίᾳ τεκταίνεται δόλους

When 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.

ἐάν σου δέηται ὁ ἐχθρὸς μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ μὴ πεισθῇς ἑπτὰ γάρ εἰσιν πονηρίαι ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ

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

Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia ejus in consilio.

ὁ κρύπτων ἔχθραν συνίστησιν δόλον ἐκκαλύπτει δὲ τὰς ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίας εὔγνωστος ἐν συνεδρίοις

He 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.

ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον τῷ πλησίον ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς αὐτόν ὁ δὲ κυλίων λίθον ἐφ' ἑαυτὸν κυλίει

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

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

γλῶσσα ψευδὴς μισεῖ ἀλήθειαν στόμα δὲ ἄστεγον ποιεῖ ἀκαταστασίας