Proverbs 26

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

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.

2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

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

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

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him.

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

Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage.

Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.

Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool.

Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.

9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.

Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.

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

12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.

Do you see someone who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.

The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”

14 [As] the door turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.

As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.

15 The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.

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

The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.

17 He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.

18 As a mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,

19 So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”

20 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.

21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.

As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

22 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.

25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.

He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation.

Though his hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.

28 A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.