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 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 does 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 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 conceit.
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 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.
The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory 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 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.
A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
10 The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
The Former of all [is] great, 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 has 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.
You have 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 has 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 turns around 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 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 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 [that is] 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 has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
20 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife 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 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;
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 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] 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 will 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] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
