Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not suitable for a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
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 fool's back.
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 you 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 conceit.
Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks 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 of the lame are not equal: 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 he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool.
Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
9 As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
10 The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
[As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
12 See you 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 eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
13 The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; 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 As the door turns upon his hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed.
The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again 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 conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
17 He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes 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 mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
19 So is the man that deceives his neighbour, and says, 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, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
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 talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
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 a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
24 He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
25 When he speaks 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 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
27 Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will 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 hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
