Proverbs 26

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

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.

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

As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.

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

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

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

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

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

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

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 fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.

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

The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

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

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

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

A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.

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

As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.

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

Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”

The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!

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

[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.

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

The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

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

A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.

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

He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

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

As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”

so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?

20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.

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

[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.

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

The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

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

Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

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

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:

25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

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

Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.

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

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

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

A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.