Proverbs 26

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

As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.

As the sparowe by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeles, shall not come.

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

Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a bridle, and a rod to the fooles backe.

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

Answer not a foole according to his foolishnes, least thou also be like him.

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

Answere a foole according to his foolishnes, least he be wise in his owne conceite.

6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a foole, is as he that cutteth off the feete, and drinketh iniquitie.

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.

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

As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he that giueth glory to a foole.

9 Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As a thorne standing vp in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.

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

The excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the foole and rewardeth the transgressers.

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

As a dog turneth againe to his owne vomit, so a foole turneth to his foolishnes.

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

Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceite? more hope is of a foole then of him.

13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road. A fierce lion roams the streets."

The slouthfull man sayth, A lyon is in the way: a lyon is in the streetes.

14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.

As the doore turneth vpon his hinges, so doeth the slouthfull man vpon his bed.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

The slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and it grieueth him to put it againe to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

The sluggard is wiser in his owne conceite, then seuen men that can render a reason.

17 Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

He that passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not vnto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the eares.

18 Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,

As he that faineth himselfe mad, casteth fire brands, arrowes, and mortall things,

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"

So dealeth the deceitfull man with his friend and sayth, Am not I in sport?

20 Without wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, contention ceases.

Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.

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

As ye cole maketh burning coles, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.

22 The words of a gossip are as tasty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.

The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.

23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

As siluer drosse ouerlayde vpon a potsheard, so are burning lips, and an euill heart.

24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.

He that hateth, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.

25 When his speech is charming, do not believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Though he speake fauourably, beleeue him not: for there are seuen abominations in his heart.

26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Hatred may be couered by deceite: but the malice thereof shall be discouered in the congregation.

27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall returne vnto him.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.