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 honour [is] not comely 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 doth 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 an ass, 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 be like to him — even thou.
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 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.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable 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 honour 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 hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
Great [is] the Former of all, 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 hath 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.
Thou hast 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 hath 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 turneth round 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 hath 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 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 hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
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.
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
When his voice is gracious trust not 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, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
