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 bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
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 ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
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 you 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 that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that 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 goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to 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 you a man wise in his own conceit? there is 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 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.
As the door turns on his hinges, so does the slothful on his bed.
15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves 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 that 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 that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
As a mad man 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 that deceives his neighbor, and says, Am not I in sport?
20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
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 is a contentious man to kindle 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 wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
When he speaks fair, 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.
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
