Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.
As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to a fool.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.
As the bird [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you are like to him—even you.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he is wise in his own eyes.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
He choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
7 The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.
As is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
[As] a thorn that is come into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
A master injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
11 As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in his folly.
12 You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
14 The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
As a door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back again to his mouth.
16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
The slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.
As is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
As one fatigueth himself shooting off firebrands, arrows, and death:
19 So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
So is the man that hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
20 Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
As charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
22 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
24 A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
25 When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
Though he make his voice sound ever so graciously, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
27 Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
Whoso diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
28 A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
