Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back of fools.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him.
5 Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks injury.
7 Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
The legs of a lame man hang loose. So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
As a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool, and he who hires those who pass by.
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
As a dog who returns to his vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see someone who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
See thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than of him.
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
The door turns upon its hinges, so does the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.
17 Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
He who passes by, and meddles with strife not his, is like he who takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not in sport?
20 For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.
25 He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
He who digs a pit shall fall in it, and he who rolls a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
