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 becoming to a fool.
2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
As the sparrow wandereth, and the swallow flieth away, So the curse without cause 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 the fool.
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 become 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 cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage, Who sendeth a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
The legs of a lame man hang loose; So is it with 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 he who bindeth a stone 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 lifted up by 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.
As an archer who woundeth every one, So is he who hireth fools and hireth wayfarers.
11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
As a dog returneth to that which he hath vomited, 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!
Seest thou 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 saith, “There is a lion in the way; There is a lion in 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 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 dippeth his hand into the dish; It grieveth 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 who 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!
As one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.
18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
As a madman That casteth about darts, arrows, and death,
19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
So is the man who deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, “Was I not in sport?”
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 talebearer, contention ceaseth.
21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
As coal is for heat, and as wood for fire, So is a contentious man for kindling 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 like dainties; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
As drossy silver spread over an earthen vessel, So are warm lips and an evil heart.
24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
The hater dissembleth with his lips, And layeth up deceit within him.
25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
When he speaketh 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.
His hatred is covered by deceit; His wickedness shall be revealed in the great assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
He that 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 whom it woundeth, And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
