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 honour 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 wandering sparrow, as the flying swallow, so the curse that is causeless shall come home.
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 ass, 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 unto 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 eyes.
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 fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage.
7 Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
The legs hang limp from the lame; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
As a small stone in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour 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 cometh into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable 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.
A master performeth all things; but he that stoppeth a fool is as one that stoppeth a flood.
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is a fool that repeateth his folly.
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 own eyes? there is more hope of 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 saith: 'There is a lion in the way; yea, a lion is in the streets.'
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
The door is turning upon its hinges, and the sluggard is still 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 burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth 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 sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that give wise answer.
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 meddleth with strife not his own, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;
19 is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith: 'Am not I in sport?'
20 For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle 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 of the body.
23 Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like 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 that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him.
25 He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When he speaketh fair, 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 be concealed with deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth 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 hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
