Proverbs 26

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Like snow in summer, or rain in harvest, honor for a fool is out of place.	1 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight, a curse uncalled-for arrives nowhere.	2 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.
3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass, and the rod for the back of fools.	3 A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not the fool according to his folly, lest you too become like him.	4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
5 Answer the fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.	5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 He cuts off his feet, he drinks down violence, who sends messages by a fool.	6 He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool hangs limp, like crippled legs.	7 As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who entangles the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.	8 As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Like a thorn stick brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.	9 As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer wounding all who pass by is he who hires a drunken fool.	10 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
11 As the dog returns to his vomit, so the fool repeats his folly.	11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
12 You see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.	12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the street, a lion in the middle of the square!"	13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
14 The door turns on its hinges, the sluggard, on his bed!	14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The sluggard loses his hand in the dish; he is too weary to lift it to his mouth.	15 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
16 The sluggard imagines himself wiser than seven men who answer with good sense.	16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
17 Like the man who seizes a passing dog by the ears is he who meddles in a quarrel not his own.	17 As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man's quarrel.
18 Like a crazed archer scattering firebrands and deadly arrows	18 As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death :
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and then says, "I was only joking."	19 So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
20 For lack of wood, the fire dies out; and when there is no talebearer, strife subsides.	20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
21 What a bellows is to live coals, what wood is to fire, such is a contentious man in enkindling strife.	21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being.	22 The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Like a glazed finish on earthenware are smooth lips with a wicked heart.	23 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
24 With his lips an enemy pretends, but in his inmost being he maintains deceit;	24 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
25 When he speaks graciously, trust him not, for seven abominations are in his heart.	25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
26 A man may conceal hatred under dissimulation, but his malice will be revealed in the assembly.	26 He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
27 He who digs a pit falls into it; and a stone comes back upon him who rolls it.	27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
28 The lying tongue is its owner's enemy, and the flattering mouth works ruin.	28 A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.