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, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
2 As the wandering sparrow, as the flying swallow, so the curse that is causeless shall come home.
As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become 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.
One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
7 The legs hang limp from the lame; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
8 As a small stone in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
9 As a thorn that cometh into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
10 A master performeth all things; but he that stoppeth a fool is as one that stoppeth a flood.
[As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is a fool that repeateth his folly.
As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
12 Seest thou 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 eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
13 The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion in the way; yea, a lion is in the streets.'
Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
14 The door is turning upon its hinges, and the sluggard is still upon his bed.
The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth him to bring it back to his mouth.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that give wise answer.
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife not his own, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;
As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith: 'Am not I in sport?'
So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling 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 tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him.
With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust 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 may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
