26. An ignorant man | thinks that all he knows,
When he sits by himself in a corner;
But never what answer | to make he knows,
When others with questions come.
27. A witless man, | when he meets with men,
Had best in silence abide;
For no one shall find | that nothing he knows,
If his mouth is not open too much.
(But a man knows not, | if nothing he knows,
When his mouth has been open too much.)
28. Wise shall he seem | who well can question,
And also answer well;
Nought is concealed | that men may say
Among the sons of men.
29. Often he speaks | who never is still
With words that win no faith;
The babbling tongue, | if a bridle it find not,
Oft for itself sings ill.
30. In mockery no one | a man shall hold,
Although he fare to the feast;
Wise seems one oft, | if nought he is asked,
And safely he sits dry-skinned.
[25. The first two lines are abbreviated in the manuscript, but are doubtless identical with the first two lines of stanza 24.
27. The last two lines were probably added as a commentary on lines 3 and 4.]
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26. Ósnotr maðr þykkisk allt vita,
ef hann á sér í vá veru;
hittki hann veit,
hvat hann skal við kveða,
ef hans freista firar.
27. Ósnotr maðr, er með aldir kemr,
þat er bazt, at hann þegi;
engi þat veit, at hann ekki kann,
nema hann mæli til margt;
veit-a maðr, hinn er vettki veit,
þótt hann mæli til margt.
28. Fróðr sá þykkisk, er fregna kann
ok segja it sama;
eyvitu leyna megu ýta synir,
því er gengr um guma.
29. Ærna mælir, sá er æva þegir,
staðlausu stafi;
hraðmælt tunga, nema haldendr eigi,
oft sér ógótt of gelr.
30. At augabragði skal-a maðr annan hafa,
þótt til kynnis komi;
margr þá fróðr þykkisk, ef hann freginn er-at
ok nái hann þurrfjallr þruma.
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