Proverbs 26
1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.
3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.
7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
[As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
[As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.
17 Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
