Proverbs 26

1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.

2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.

As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.

3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.

A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

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

Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.

5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.

Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.

He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

7 [As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.

Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.

As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.

9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.

A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought.

Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.

11 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.]

As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.

12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.

Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!

13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.

The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'

14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.

The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.

15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.

The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.

16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.

Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.

17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.

Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.

18 As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;

As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.

So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'

20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.

Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,

21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.

Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.

The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.

Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.

24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.

By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,

25 Though [thine] enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.

26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.

Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.

27 He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.

Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.

28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.

A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!