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 honor 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 the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless 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 fool’s back.
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 also be like to 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 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 the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honor to a fool.
9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
10 [As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
See you a man wise in his own conceit? 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 slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
As the door turns on his hinges, so does the slothful on his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves 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.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
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 passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
So is the man that deceives his neighbor, and says, Am not I in sport?
20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle 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 wounds, 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:
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
When he speaks fair, 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.
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return on him.
28 A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
