Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
10 [As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!
Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
22 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
