Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
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 donkey, and a rod for the backs 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, or you yourself will be like him.
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 become wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 [As] the door turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 As a mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome 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 gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
