Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks injury.
7 As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
The legs of a lame man hang loose. So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool, and he who hires those who pass by.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
As a dog who returns to his vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
See thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than of him.
13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
The door turns upon its hinges, so does the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.
17 As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
He who passes by, and meddles with strife not his, is like he who takes a dog by the ears.
18 As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:
As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not in sport?
20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.
25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
When he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
He who digs a pit shall fall in it, and he who rolls a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
