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 becoming to 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 wandereth, and the swallow flieth away, So the curse without cause 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 back of the fool.
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 become like to 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 cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage, Who sendeth a message by the hand of a fool.
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 a lame man hang loose; So is it with a proverb 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 who 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 lifted up by the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
As an archer who woundeth every one, So is he who hireth fools and hireth wayfarers.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
As a dog returneth to that which he hath vomited, So a fool 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 slothful man saith, “There is a lion in the way; There is a lion 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 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 dippeth his hand into the dish; 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 who 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.
As one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
As a madman That casteth about darts, 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 who deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, “Was I not in sport?”
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out; So, where there is no talebearer, 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 coal is for heat, and as wood for fire, So is a contentious man for kindling 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 like dainties; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
As drossy silver spread over an earthen vessel, So are warm lips and an evil heart.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
The hater 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.
His hatred is covered by deceit; His wickedness shall be revealed in the great assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
He that 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 woundeth, And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
