Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.
As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like 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 eyes.
Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: 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 one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
9 Like a thornbush that goes 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 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
[As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road. A fierce lion roams the streets."
Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back 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 eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
17 Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
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 Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"
So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
20 Without wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, contention ceases.
Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are as tasty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
25 When his speech is charming, do not believe him; 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 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
