Proverbs 26
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 [As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 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.]
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
