Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.

   Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe, sic indecens est stulto gloria.

2. 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.†

   Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quolibet vadens, sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.

3. 3

   A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.

   Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.

4. 4

   Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.†

   Ne respondeas stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.

5. 5

   Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.

   Responde stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.

6. 6

   Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.

   Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum.

7. 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.

   Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias, sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.

8. 8

   Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.

   Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii, ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.

9. 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.

   Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti, sic parabola in ore stultorum.

10. 10

    Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.

    Judicium determinat causas, et qui imponit stulto silentium iras mitigat.

11. 11

    Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.

    Sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam.

12. 12

    Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.

    Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.

13. 13

    The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”

    Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus.

14. 14

    Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.

    Sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.

15. 15

    The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.

    Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.

16. 16

    The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.

    Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.

17. 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.

    Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens et commiscetur rixæ alterius.

18. 18

    Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,

    Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas et lanceas in mortem,

19. 19

    so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”

    ita vir fraudulenter nocet amico suo, et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit: Ludens feci.

20. 20

    When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.

    Cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis, et susurrone subtracto, jurgia conquiescent.

21. 21

    Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.

    Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.

22. 22

    The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.

    Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.

23. 23

    In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.

    Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.

24. 24

    An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.

    Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.

25. 25

    When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.

    Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei, quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.

26. 26

    Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.

    Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia ejus in consilio.

27. 27

    Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.

    Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum.

28. 28

    A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.

    Lingua fallax non amat veritatem, et os lubricum operatur ruinas.

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)