Proverbs 26

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Snow no more befits the summer, nor rain the harvest-time, than honours befit a fool.	1 Like snow in summer, or rain in harvest, honor for a fool is out of place.
2 As the sparrow escapes, and the swal ow flies away, so the undeserved curse will never hit its mark.	2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight, a curse uncalled-for arrives nowhere.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and for the backs of fools, a stick.	3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass, and the rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool in the terms of his fol y for fear you grow like him yourself.	4 Answer not the fool according to his folly, lest you too become like him.
5 Answer a fool in the terms of his fol y for fear he imagine himself wise.	5 Answer the fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 He wounds himself, he takes violence for his drink, who sends a message by a fool.	6 He cuts off his feet, he drinks down violence, who sends messages by a fool.
7 Unreliable as the legs of the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.	7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool hangs limp, like crippled legs.
8 As wel tie the stone to the sling as pay honour to a fool.	8 Like one who entangles the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 A thorn branch in a drunkard's hand, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.	9 Like a thorn stick brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 An archer wounding everyone, such is he who hires the passing fool and drunkard.	10 Like an archer wounding all who pass by is he who hires a drunken fool.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool reverts to his fol y.	11 As the dog returns to his vomit, so the fool repeats his folly.
12 You see someone who thinks himself wise? More to be hoped for from a fool than from him!	12 You see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 'A wild beast on the road!' says the idler, 'a lion in the streets!'	13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the street, a lion in the middle of the square!"
14 The door turns on its hinges, the idler on his bed.	14 The door turns on its hinges, the sluggard, on his bed!
15 Into the dish the idler dips his hand, but is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.	15 The sluggard loses his hand in the dish; he is too weary to lift it to his mouth.
16 The idler thinks himself wiser than seven people who answer with discretion.	16 The sluggard imagines himself wiser than seven men who answer with good sense.
17 He takes a stray dog by the ears, who meddles in someone else's quarrel.	17 Like the man who seizes a passing dog by the ears is he who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a madman hurling firebrands, arrows and death,	18 Like a crazed archer scattering firebrands and deadly arrows
19 so is anyone who lies to a companion and then says, 'Aren't I amusing?'	19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and then says, "I was only joking."
20 No wood, and the fire goes out; no slanderer, and quarrel ing dies down.	20 For lack of wood, the fire dies out; and when there is no talebearer, strife subsides.
21 Charcoal for live embers, wood for fire, and the quarrelsome for kindling strife.	21 What a bellows is to live coals, what wood is to fire, such is a contentious man in enkindling strife.
22 The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the bel y.	22 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being.
23 Base silver-plate on top of clay: such are fervent lips and a wicked heart.	23 Like a glazed finish on earthenware are smooth lips with a wicked heart.
24 Whoever hates may hide it in speech, but deep within lies treachery;	24 With his lips an enemy pretends, but in his inmost being he maintains deceit;
25 do not trust such a person's pretty speeches, since in the heart lurk seven abominations.	25 When he speaks graciously, trust him not, for seven abominations are in his heart.
26 Hatred may disguise itself with guile, to reveal its wickedness later in the assembly.	26 A man may conceal hatred under dissimulation, but his malice will be revealed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit fal s into it, the stone comes back on him that rol s it.	27 He who digs a pit falls into it; and a stone comes back upon him who rolls it.
28 The lying tongue hates its victims, the wheedling mouth causes ruin.	28 The lying tongue is its owner's enemy, and the flattering mouth works ruin.