Proverbs 26
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honor 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 birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
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 you become like him.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you are like to him—even you.
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he is wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 [As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.
9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.
18 As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
25 Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent 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 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
27 He that digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
