Proverbs 26

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.

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

2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.

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

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.

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

4 Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;

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

5 Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.

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

6 One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.

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

7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.

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

8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.

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

9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.

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

10 [As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.

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

11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.

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

12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!

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

13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.

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

14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.

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

15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

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

16 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.

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

17 As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!

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

18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,

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

19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?

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

20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.

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

21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.

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

22 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.

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

23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:

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

24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:

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

25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:

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

26 Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.

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

27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.

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

28 A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.

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