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 honour [is] not comely for a fool.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
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, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
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 be 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.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating 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 eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle 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 tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When his voice is gracious trust not in 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 is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
