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 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 the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
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 fool’s back.
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 the feet, [and] drinketh 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 are not equal: 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 he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour 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 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.
The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to 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 slothful [man] 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 his hinges, so [doth] the slothful 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 slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth 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] meddleth 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 mad [man] 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 neighbour, 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.
Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife 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 burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered 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, and 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.
[Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation.
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 will return upon him.
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
