Proverbs 26

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Snow no more befits the summer, nor rain the harvest-time, than honours befit a fool.	1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
2 As the sparrow escapes, and the swal ow flies away, so the undeserved curse will never hit its mark.	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 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and for the backs of fools, a stick.	3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 Do not answer a fool in the terms of his fol y for fear you grow like him yourself.	4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Answer a fool in the terms of his fol y for fear he imagine himself wise.	5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 He wounds himself, he takes violence for his drink, who sends a message by a fool.	6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 Unreliable as the legs of the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.	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 As wel tie the stone to the sling as pay honour to a fool.	8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 A thorn branch in a drunkard's hand, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.	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 An archer wounding everyone, such is he who hires the passing fool and drunkard.	10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool reverts to his fol y.	11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 You see someone who thinks himself wise? More to be hoped for from a fool than from him!	12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 'A wild beast on the road!' says the idler, 'a lion in the streets!'	13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 The door turns on its hinges, the idler on his bed.	14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 Into the dish the idler dips his hand, but is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.	15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 The idler thinks himself wiser than seven people who answer with discretion.	16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 He takes a stray dog by the ears, who meddles in someone else's quarrel.	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 Like a madman hurling firebrands, arrows and death,	18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 so is anyone who lies to a companion and then says, 'Aren't I amusing?'	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 No wood, and the fire goes out; no slanderer, and quarrel ing dies down.	20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 Charcoal for live embers, wood for fire, and the quarrelsome for kindling strife.	21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
22 The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the bel y.	22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 Base silver-plate on top of clay: such are fervent lips and a wicked heart.	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 Whoever hates may hide it in speech, but deep within lies treachery;	24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 do not trust such a person's pretty speeches, since in the heart lurk seven abominations.	25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 Hatred may disguise itself with guile, to reveal its wickedness later in the assembly.	26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall 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 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 The lying tongue hates its victims, the wheedling mouth causes ruin.	28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.