Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.
As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like 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 imagine himself to be wise.
6 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
7 Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
11 As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
14 The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:
19 So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
20 Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
22 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
24 By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
25 When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
27 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
28 A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
