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 fitting 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 a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.
3 A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you are like to him—even you.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he is wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory 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 one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving 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.
A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
10 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning 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.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.
18 As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, 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 has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up 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 it were simple, but they reach to 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 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
28 A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
