Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
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 backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like 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 become wise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool 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.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on 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 slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
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.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
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, “I was only joking!”
20 For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling 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 gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Though his hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in 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 will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
