Proverbs

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.

2As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.

3A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

7Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

8As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.

9A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

10Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.

11As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.

12Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!

13The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'

14The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.

15The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.

16Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.

17Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.

18As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

19So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'

20Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,

21Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

22The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

23Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.

24By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,

25When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.

26Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.

27Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.

28A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!

1quyền cao chức trọng đâu hợp với kẻ ngu si.

2lời nguyền rủa vô cớ cũng chẳng đi tới đâu.

3đòn vọt dành cho lưng đứa ngu xuẩn.

4kẻo chính con cũng lại giống nó thôi.

5kẻo nó cứ tưởng là nó khôn.

6và gánh lấy biết bao tai hoạ.

7thì cũng như anh què đi khập khiễng.

8chẳng khác chi cột sỏi vào ná bắn.

9chẳng khác gì kẻ say vung cành gai mà múa.

10gây thương tích cho mọi người qua lại.

11đứa ngu lặp lại chuyện ngu đần.

12thì thà hy vọng vào đứa ngu còn hơn.

13nơi quảng trường có chúa sơn lâm.”

14đứa lười lăn trên giường.

15nhưng chẳng buồn đưa thức ăn lên miệng.

16mình khôn hơn bảy người có tài đối đáp.

17khác nào kéo tai chó chạy rông.

18phóng lửa, bắn tên gây chết chóc.

19Kẻ lừa đảo bạn bè, rồi bảo : “Đùa đấy thôi !”

20hết kẻ mách lẻo thì cũng bớt đôi co.

21kẻ hay gây gổ khiến cãi cọ bùng lên.

22trôi xuống tận ruột gan.

23chẳng khác nào bạc cặn dát trên đồ gốm.

24nhưng thâm tâm vẫn đặt chuyện lọc lừa.

25vì lòng nó chứa đầy chuyện ghê tởm.

26nhưng ác tâm của nó bị đại hội vạch trần.

27người lăn đá lại bị đá đè.

28miệng ngọt xớt gây đổ vỡ nát tan.