Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back 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 will become like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not 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.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Like tying a stone in a sling is giving 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 goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who 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 someone 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
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 takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person 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 delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
Though his hatred is covered with 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.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
