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 honour [is] not comely for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
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 also be like unto 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 be wise in his own conceit.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the 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 of the lame are not equal: so is a parable 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 bindeth a stone in a sling, 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 a thorn goeth up into 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 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is 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; a lion is in the streets.
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 As the door turneth upon his 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 in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again 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 can render a reason.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, 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 not his own.
18 As a mad man 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 hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
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 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 talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into 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 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
