Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.
2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless does not alight.
As the sparowe by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeles, shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a bridle, and a rod to the fooles backe.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him.
Answer not a foole according to his foolishnes, least thou also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Answere a foole according to his foolishnes, least he be wise in his owne conceite.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks injury.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a foole, is as he that cutteth off the feete, and drinketh iniquitie.
7 The legs of a lame man hang loose. So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
8 As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he that giueth glory to a foole.
9 As a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
As a thorne standing vp in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool, and he who hires those who pass by.
The excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the foole and rewardeth the transgressers.
11 As a dog who returns to his vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly.
As a dog turneth againe to his owne vomit, so a foole turneth to his foolishnes.
12 See thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than of him.
Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceite? more hope is of a foole then of him.
13 The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
The slouthfull man sayth, A lyon is in the way: a lyon is in the streetes.
14 The door turns upon its hinges, so does the sluggard upon his bed.
As the doore turneth vpon his hinges, so doeth the slouthfull man vpon his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.
The slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and it grieueth him to put it againe to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.
The sluggard is wiser in his owne conceite, then seuen men that can render a reason.
17 He who passes by, and meddles with strife not his, is like he who takes a dog by the ears.
He that passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not vnto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the eares.
18 As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
As he that faineth himselfe mad, casteth fire brands, arrowes, and mortall things,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not in sport?
So dealeth the deceitfull man with his friend and sayth, Am not I in sport?
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
As ye cole maketh burning coles, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.
23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
As siluer drosse ouerlayde vpon a potsheard, so are burning lips, and an euill heart.
24 He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.
He that hateth, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.
25 When he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though he speake fauourably, beleeue him not: for there are seuen abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.
Hatred may be couered by deceite: but the malice thereof shall be discouered in the congregation.
27 He who digs a pit shall fall in it, and he who rolls a stone, it shall return upon him.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall returne vnto him.
28 A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.
