Proverbs 26

NEW JERUSALEM	VULGATA
1 Snow no more befits the summer, nor rain the harvest-time, than honours befit a fool.	1 Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe, sic indecens est stulto gloria.
2 As the sparrow escapes, and the swal ow flies away, so the undeserved curse will never hit its mark.	2 Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quolibet vadens, sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and for the backs of fools, a stick.	3 Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
4 Do not answer a fool in the terms of his fol y for fear you grow like him yourself.	4 Ne respondeas stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
5 Answer a fool in the terms of his fol y for fear he imagine himself wise.	5 Responde stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
6 He wounds himself, he takes violence for his drink, who sends a message by a fool.	6 Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum.
7 Unreliable as the legs of the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.	7 Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias, sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
8 As wel tie the stone to the sling as pay honour to a fool.	8 Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii, ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
9 A thorn branch in a drunkard's hand, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.	9 Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti, sic parabola in ore stultorum.
10 An archer wounding everyone, such is he who hires the passing fool and drunkard.	10 Judicium determinat causas, et qui imponit stulto silentium iras mitigat.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool reverts to his fol y.	11 Sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam.
12 You see someone who thinks himself wise? More to be hoped for from a fool than from him!	12 Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri ? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.
13 'A wild beast on the road!' says the idler, 'a lion in the streets!'	13 Dicit piger : Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus.
14 The door turns on its hinges, the idler on his bed.	14 Sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
15 Into the dish the idler dips his hand, but is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.	15 Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
16 The idler thinks himself wiser than seven people who answer with discretion.	16 Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.
17 He takes a stray dog by the ears, who meddles in someone else's quarrel.	17 Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens et commiscetur rixæ alterius.
18 Like a madman hurling firebrands, arrows and death,	18 Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas et lanceas in mortem,
19 so is anyone who lies to a companion and then says, 'Aren't I amusing?'	19 ita vir fraudulenter nocet amico suo, et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit : Ludens feci.
20 No wood, and the fire goes out; no slanderer, and quarrel ing dies down.	20 Cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis, et susurrone subtracto, jurgia conquiescent.
21 Charcoal for live embers, wood for fire, and the quarrelsome for kindling strife.	21 Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
22 The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the bel y.	22 Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
23 Base silver-plate on top of clay: such are fervent lips and a wicked heart.	23 Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
24 Whoever hates may hide it in speech, but deep within lies treachery;	24 Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
25 do not trust such a person's pretty speeches, since in the heart lurk seven abominations.	25 Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei, quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.
26 Hatred may disguise itself with guile, to reveal its wickedness later in the assembly.	26 Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia ejus in consilio.
27 Whoever digs a pit fal s into it, the stone comes back on him that rol s it.	27 Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum.
28 The lying tongue hates its victims, the wheedling mouth causes ruin.	28 Lingua fallax non amat veritatem, et os lubricum operatur ruinas.