Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks injury.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
The legs of a lame man hang loose. So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
As a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool, and he who hires those who pass by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
As a dog who returns to his vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
See thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than of him.
13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
The door turns upon its hinges, so does the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
He who passes by, and meddles with strife not his, is like he who takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not in sport?
20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
When he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
He who digs a pit shall fall in it, and he who rolls a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
