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 honour 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 lighteth not.
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 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 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 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 sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
The legs of the lame hang loose: 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 a bag of gems in a heap of stones, 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] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
[As] an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [so is] a 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.
Seest thou 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 sluggard saith, 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 turneth upon its hinges, so doth 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 burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth 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 passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
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 of the belly.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are [like] 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 that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
When he speaketh 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.
Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before the congregation.
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 shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
