Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, 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 be made like 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 imagine himself to be wise.
6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
8 Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour 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 if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth 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.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it 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 that speak sentences.
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public 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 that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
