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 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 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 conceit.
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 the 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 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 bindeth a stone in a sling, 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 goeth up 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 The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
[As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth 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 eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
13 The slothful [man] saith, [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 turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth 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 passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [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 mad [man] 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, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife 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 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 hateth dissembleth with his lips, and 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 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] 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 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 hateth [those that are] afflicted 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.
