26:1 Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe, sic indecens est stulto gloria.

26:1 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.

26:2 Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quolibet vadens, sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.

26:2 As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.

26:3 Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.

26:3 A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

26:4 Ne respondeas stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.

26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.

26:5 Responde stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.

26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.

26:6 Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum.

26:6 He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.

26:7 Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias, sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.

26:7 As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.

26:8 Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii, ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.

26:8 As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

26:9 Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti, sic parabola in ore stultorum.

26:9 As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

26:10 Judicium determinat causas, et qui imponit stulto silentium iras mitigat.

26:10 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.

26:11 Sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam.

26:11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.

26:12 Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri ? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.

26:12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.

26:13 Dicit piger : Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus.

26:13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.

26:14 Sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.

26:14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

26:15 Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.

26:15 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.

26:16 Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.

26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.

26:17 Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens et commiscetur rixæ alterius.

26:17 As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man's quarrel.

26:18 Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas et lanceas in mortem,

26:18 As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death.

26:19 ita vir fraudulenter nocet amico suo, et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit : Ludens feci.

26:19 So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.

26:20 Cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis, et susurrone subtracto, jurgia conquiescent.

26:20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.

26:21 Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.

26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.

26:22 Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.

26:22 The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.

26:23 Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.

26:23 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthern vessel adorned with silver dross.

26:24 Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.

26:24 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.

26:25 Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei, quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.

26:25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.

26:26 Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia ejus in consilio.

26:26 He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.

26:27 Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum.

26:27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.

26:28 Lingua fallax non amat veritatem, et os lubricum operatur ruinas.

26:28 A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.