As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
So honor is not seemly for a fool.
As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
So the curse that is causeless {Hebrew: cometh not.}alighteth not.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
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 {Hebrew: his own eyes.}his own conceit.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
The legs of the lame hang loose;
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,
So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
{Or, A master worker formeth all things; But he that hireth the fool is as one that hireth them that pass by The Hebrew text is obscure.}As an archer that woundeth all,
So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
So is a fool that repeateth his folly.
Seest thou a man wise in {Hebrew: his own eyes.}his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way;
A lion is in the streets.
As the door turneth upon its hinges,
So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;
It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The sluggard is wiser in {Hebrew: his own eyes.}his own conceit
Than seven men that can {Or, answer discreetly}render a reason.
{Or, He that rexeth himself…is like one that taketh a passing dog &c.}He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,
Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
As a madman who casteth firebrands,
Arrows, and death,
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,
And saith, Am not I in sport?
For lack of wood the fire goeth out;
And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart
Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips;
But he layeth up deceit within him:
When he speaketh fair, believe him not;
For there are seven abominations in his heart:
Though his hatred cover itself with guile,
His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;
And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath {Hebrew: crushed.}wounded;
And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Querverweise zu Sprüche 26,11 Spr 26,11
But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he {Hebrew: made heavy.}hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them, as Jehovah had spoken.
Then goeth {Or, it}he, and taketh with {Or, itself}himself seven other spirits more evil than {Or, itself}himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.
It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, {Proverbs 26:11.}The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.