Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour 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 the wandering sparrow, as the flying swallow, so the curse that is causeless shall come home.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does 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 a donkey, And a rod 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, Lest you are like to him—even you.
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 is 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 hang limp from the lame; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
8 As a small stone in a heap of stones, 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 a thorn that cometh into 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 A master performeth all things; but he that stoppeth a fool is as one that stoppeth a flood.
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 a fool that repeateth his folly.
As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes? there is 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 sluggard saith: 'There is a lion in the way; yea, a lion is in the streets.'
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
14 The door is turning upon its hinges, and the sluggard is still upon his bed.
The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth him to bring it back 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 eyes than seven men that give wise answer.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife not his own, 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 [that is] 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 the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith: 'Am not I in sport?'
So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
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 is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like 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.
A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Though his hatred be concealed with deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the congregation.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
