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26 Come la neve d'estate e la pioggia alla mietitura,
così l'onore non conviene allo stolto.
Come il passero che svolazza, come la rondine che vola,
così una maledizione senza motivo non avverrà.
La frusta per il cavallo, la cavezza per l'asino
e il bastone per la schiena degli stolti.
Non rispondere allo stolto secondo la sua stoltezza
per non divenire anche tu simile a lui.
Rispondi allo stolto secondo la sua stoltezza
perché egli non si creda saggio.
Si taglia i piedi e beve amarezze
chi invia messaggi per mezzo di uno stolto.
Malferme sono le gambe dello zoppo,
così una massima sulla bocca degli stolti.
Come chi lega il sasso alla fionda,
così chi attribuisce onori a uno stolto.
Una spina penetrata nella mano d'un ubriaco,
tale è una massima sulla bocca degli stolti.
10 Arciere che ferisce tutti i passanti,
tale è chi assume uno stolto o un ubriaco.
11 Come il cane torna al suo vomito,
così lo stolto ripete le sue stoltezze.
12 Hai visto un uomo che si crede saggio?
E' meglio sperare in uno stolto che in lui.
13 Il pigro dice: «C'è una belva per la strada,
un leone si aggira per le piazze».
14 La porta gira sui cardini,
così il pigro sul suo letto.
15 Il pigro tuffa la mano nel piatto,
ma dura fatica a portarla alla bocca.
16 Il pigro si crede saggio
più di sette persone che rispondono con senno.
17 Prende un cane per le orecchie
chi si intromette in una lite che non lo riguarda.
18 Come un pazzo che scaglia tizzoni
e frecce di morte,
19 così è quell'uomo che inganna il suo prossimo
e poi dice: «Ma sì, è stato uno scherzo!».
20 Per mancanza di legna il fuoco si spegne;
se non c'è il delatore, il litigio si calma.
21 Mantice per il carbone e legna per il fuoco,
tale è l'attaccabrighe per rattizzar le liti.
22 Le parole del sussurrone sono come ghiotti bocconi,
esse scendono in fondo alle viscere.
23 Come vernice d'argento sopra un coccio di creta
sono le labbra lusinghiere con un cuore maligno.
24 Chi odia si maschera con le labbra,
ma nel suo intimo cova il tradimento;
25 anche se usa espressioni melliflue, non ti fidare,
perché egli ha sette abomini nel cuore.
26 L'odio si copre di simulazione,
ma la sua malizia apparirà pubblicamente.
27 Chi scava una fossa vi cadrà dentro
e chi rotola una pietra, gli ricadrà addosso.
28 Una lingua bugiarda odia la verità,
una bocca adulatrice produce rovina.

26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.

10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

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

15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(I)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(K)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(L)
    so fools repeat their folly.(M)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(N)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(O)

13 A sluggard says,(P) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”(Q)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.(R)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.(S)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(T)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(U)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(V)

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(W)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(X)
25 Though their speech is charming,(Y) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.(Z)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(AA) will fall into it;(AB)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(AC)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth(AD) works ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth