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 honour [is] not comely for a fool.
2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
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 be 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.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 [As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 [As] an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [so is] a fool that repeateth his folly.
As a dog hath 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.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the sluggard upon his bed.
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The slothful hath 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 that can render a reason.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 [As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle 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 tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart:
When his voice is gracious trust not in 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 is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
