Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.
2 As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
As the sparowe by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeles, shall not come.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back of fools.
Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a bridle, and a rod to the fooles backe.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him.
Answer not a foole according to his foolishnes, least thou also be like him.
5 Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
Answere a foole according to his foolishnes, least he be wise in his owne conceite.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a foole, is as he that cutteth off the feete, and drinketh iniquitie.
7 Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he that giueth glory to a foole.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
As a thorne standing vp in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
10 Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
The excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the foole and rewardeth the transgressers.
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
As a dog turneth againe to his owne vomit, so a foole turneth to his foolishnes.
12 Do you see someone who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceite? more hope is of a foole then of him.
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
The slouthfull man sayth, A lyon is in the way: a lyon is in the streetes.
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
As the doore turneth vpon his hinges, so doeth the slouthfull man vpon 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 slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and it grieueth him to put it againe 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 owne conceite, then seuen men that 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 that passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not vnto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the eares.
18 Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
As he that faineth himselfe mad, casteth fire brands, arrowes, and mortall things,
19 is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
So dealeth the deceitfull man with his friend and sayth, Am not I in sport?
20 For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
As ye cole maketh burning coles, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.
23 Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
As siluer drosse ouerlayde vpon a potsheard, so are burning lips, and an euill heart.
24 One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
He that hateth, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.
25 He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though he speake fauourably, beleeue him not: for there are seuen abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Hatred may be couered by deceite: but the malice thereof shall be discouered in the congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall returne vnto him.
28 A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.
