Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
As the bird [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
A whip is 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.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal unto 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 eyes.
6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
He choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: 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 is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth 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 is come into 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.
A master injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in 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.
When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
As a 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.
Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back again to his mouth.
16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
The slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
As is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
As one fatigueth himself shooting off firebrands, arrows, and death:
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
So is the man that hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
As charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
Though he make his voice sound ever so 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.
If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
Whoso diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
