Proverbia 26

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