1 Como nieve en verano y lluvia en la cosecha, así de mal le sienta la gloria al insensato. | 1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish. |
2 Como revolotea el pájaro y vuela la golondrina, así no alcanza una maldición gratuita. | 2 Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away. |
3 El látigo para el caballo, el freno para el asno, y la vara para las espaldas del insensato. | 3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent. |
4 No respondas al insensato según su necedad, no sea que también tú te asemejes a él; | 4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him. |
5 responde al insensato según su necedad, no sea que pase por sabio a sus propios ojos. | 5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise. |
6 Se mutila los pies, bebe sinsabores, el que envía mensajes por medio de un necio. | 6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity. |
7 Como las piernas vacilantes del rengo, así es un proverbio en boca de los necios. | 7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish. |
8 Como sujetar una piedra en la honda, es tributar honores a un insensato. | 8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish. |
9 Espina en la mano de un borracho es un proverbio en la boca de los insensatos. | 9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish. |
10 Arquero que hiere a todos los que pasan es el que toma a sueldo a un insensato o a un borracho. | 10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger. |
11 Como el perro vuelve sobre su vómito, así el insensato reincide en su necedad. | 11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness. |
12 ¿Has visto a un hombre que se tiene por sabio? Se puede esperar más de un necio que de él. | 12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him. |
13 El perezoso dice: «¡Hay un león en el camino! ¡Un león por las plazas!. | 13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.” |
14 La puerta gira sus bisagras y el perezoso sobre su lecho. | 14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed. |
15 El perezoso hunde su mano en el plato y se fatiga de sólo llevarla a la boca. | 15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth. |
16 El perezoso se tiene por más sabio que siete personas que responden con acierto. | 16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments. |
17 Como agarrar de las orejas a un perro suelto, es entrometerse en una disputa ajena. | 17 Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another. |
18 Como un loco que arroja al azar teas y flechas mortíferas, | 18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death, |
19 así es el hombre que engaña a su prójimo y después le dice: «¡No era más que una broma!». | 19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.” |
20 Sin leña se apaga el fuego, y si no hay un detractor se apacigua la pelea. | 20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled. |
21 Carbón para las brasas y leña para el fuego es el pendenciero para atizar una disputa. | 21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels. |
22 Las palabras del detractor son como golosinas que bajan hasta el fondo de las entrañas. | 22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self. |
23 Escorias de plata aplicadas a un vaso de barro son los labios melosos con un corazón maligno. | 23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart. |
24 El que odia finge con sus labios, pero alberga engaño en su interior: | 24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit. |
25 si adopta un tono amable, no te fíes, porque hay siete abominaciones en su corazón; | 25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart. |
26 el odio se puede ocultar con astucia, pero en la asamblea se descubrirá su malicia. | 26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly. |
27 El que cava una fosa caerá en ella, al que hace rodar una piedra, se le vuelve encima. | 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him. |
28 La lengua mentirosa detesta a sus víctimas y la boca aduladora causa la ruina. | 28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin. |