Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
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 thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
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 sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 [As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
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!
He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
