Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 [As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 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!
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
