Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not becoming to a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.
2 As the sparrow wandereth, and the swallow flieth away, So the curse without cause 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 back of the fool.
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 become like to 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 cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage, Who sendeth a message by the hand of a fool.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 The legs of a lame man hang loose; So is it with a proverb 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 who bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor 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 lifted up by the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb 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 As an archer who woundeth every one, So is he who hireth fools and hireth wayfarers.
The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 As a dog returneth to that which he hath vomited, So a fool repeateth 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; There is a lion in the streets.”
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
14 As a door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 The sluggard dippeth his hand into the dish; 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 who can render a reason.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 As one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.
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 madman That casteth about darts, arrows, and death,
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man who deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, “Was I not in sport?”
So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out; So, where there is no talebearer, contention ceaseth.
Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
21 As coal is for heat, and as wood for fire, So is a contentious man for kindling strife.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are like dainties; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 As drossy silver spread over an earthen vessel, So are warm lips and an evil heart.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 The hater 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 His hatred is covered by deceit; His wickedness shall be revealed in the great assembly.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall 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 whom it woundeth, And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
