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 sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not.
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 back of fools.
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 [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in 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 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 a bag of gems in a heap of stones, 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 that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.
A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
10 [As] an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that 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 returneth to his vomit, [so is] a fool that repeateth 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 sluggard 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 its hinges, so doth the sluggard upon his bed.
The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth 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] vexeth himself 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 madman 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 For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
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 inflame strife.
Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, 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 Fervent lips and a wicked heart are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he 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 Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before the 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 shall 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 whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
