Proverbs 26
1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting 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.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
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 is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like 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 eyes.
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
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.
Like the legs of the lame that 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 who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives 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.
Like a thorn bush that goes 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 who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats 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.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the 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.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
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.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
Like a madman who shoots torches, 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.”
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
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 a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
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 kindling 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, 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.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
