Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to a fool.
2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
As the bird [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
A whip is 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;
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal 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 choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: 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 is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth 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 that is come into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable 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 injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in his folly.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
As a door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back again to his mouth.
16 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
The slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
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 is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
As one fatigueth himself shooting off 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 hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
As charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
22 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
Though he make his voice sound ever so graciously, 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.
If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
Whoso diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
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 crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
