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 alighteth not.

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 ass, 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 unto 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 that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.

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

7 The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable 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 one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth 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 goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable 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 that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

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

11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth 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 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of 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 saith, 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 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.

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

15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth 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 that 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 that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh 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 casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,

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

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I 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 goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

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 [like] 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 that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth 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 speaketh fair, 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 showed before the assembly.

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

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth 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 hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

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