Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, 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 birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back of fools.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
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 you become like him.
5 Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem 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 that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Do you see someone who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard 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.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
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.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent 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.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
He that digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
