Proverbs 26

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

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, 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 the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not.

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 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 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 conceit.

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 in 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 parable in the mouth of fools.

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

As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, 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 that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.

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

[As] an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

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

As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [so is] a fool that repeateth his folly.

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 own conceit? 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 lion in the way; a lion is in 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 doth 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.

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven 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] 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 neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”

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

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

For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

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

[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to 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 whisperer 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.

Fervent lips and a wicked heart are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

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

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

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

When he speaketh fair, 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 cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before 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 whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.