Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse does not come to rest.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory 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.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought.
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
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.]
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 When his speech is charming, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though [thine] enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent 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.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
