Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not suitable for a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like unto him.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you are like to him—even you.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he is wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
10 The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 See you a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
14 As the door turns upon his hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed.
The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.
18 As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceives his neighbour, and says, Am not I in sport?
So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
25 When he speaks fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
27 Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
28 A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
