Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
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 ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Answer a dullard 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.
One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
[As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious 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 tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
