Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
