Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
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 for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks injury.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The legs of a lame man hang loose. So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honour 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 bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable 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 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass 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 that returns to his 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 a man 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
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 does the sluggard on his bed.
The door turns upon its hinges, so does the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.
17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel 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 torches, arrows, and death,
As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not in sport?
20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to 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 whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbours evil in his heart.
He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.
25 When his speech is charming, don’t 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 His malice may be concealed by deception, but 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 shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
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 those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
