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 26,12 Spr 26,12
Seest thou a man {Or, skilful}diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings;He shall not stand before {Hebrew: obscure.}mean men.
Answer a fool according to his folly,Lest he be wise in {Hebrew: his own eyes.}his own conceit.
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his {Or, business}words?There is more hope of a fool than of him.
The sluggard is wiser in {Hebrew: his own eyes.}his own conceitThan seven men that can {Or, answer discreetly}render a reason.
Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the {See marginal note on chapter 5:46.}publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
The rich man is wise in {Hebrew: his own eyes.}his own conceit;But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his {Or, business}words?There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the {See marginal note on chapter 5:46.}publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this {See marginal note on chapter 3:12.}publican.
Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but {Greek: be carried away with.}condescend to {Or, them}things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this {Or, age}world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, {Job 5:13.}He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;
how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their {Greek: singleness. See Romans 12:8.}liberality.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked: