Proverbs 26

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.

Like snow in summer and rain when the grain is being cut, so honour is not natural for the foolish.

2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless does not alight.

As the sparrow in her wandering and the swallow in her flight, so the curse does not come without a cause.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him.

Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks injury.

He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is cutting off his feet and drinking in damage.

7 The legs of a lame man hang loose. So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish.

8 As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.

9 As a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man overcome by drink, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man.

10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool, and he who hires those who pass by.

Like an archer wounding all who go by, is a foolish man overcome by drink.

11 As a dog who returns to his vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly.

Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.

12 See thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than of him.

Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him.

13 The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 The door turns upon its hinges, so does the sluggard upon his bed.

A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work on his bed.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.

The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin: lifting it again to his mouth is a weariness to him.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.

The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.

17 He who passes by, and meddles with strife not his, is like he who takes a dog by the ears.

He who gets mixed up in a fight which is not his business, is like one who takes a dog by the ears while it is going by.

18 As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,

As one who is off his head sends about flaming sticks and arrows of death,

19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not in sport?

So is the man who gets the better of his neighbour by deceit, and says, Am I not doing so in sport?

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.

Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended.

21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.

Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.

22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.

The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

Smooth lips and an evil heart are like a vessel of earth plated with silver waste.

24 He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.

With his lips the hater makes things seem what they are not, but deceit is stored up inside him;

25 When he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

When he says fair words, have no belief in him; for in his heart are seven evils:

26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.

Though his hate is covered with deceit, his sin will be seen openly before the meeting of the people.

27 He who digs a pit shall fall in it, and he who rolls a stone, it shall return upon him.

He who makes a hole in the earth will himself go falling into it: and on him by whom a stone is rolled the stone will come back again.

28 A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.