Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
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.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise 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 lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
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.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
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 whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
