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 dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour 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 birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
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 you become like him.
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
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.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from 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.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory 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.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on 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.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
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.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
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 are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
