Proverbs 26

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.

As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

4 Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

5 Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6 One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.

7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.

The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.

As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.

[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 woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.

[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, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.

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

12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.

The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.

[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the sluggard upon his bed.

15 The sluggard burieth 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 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

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!

He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,

As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;

19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?

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

20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.

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

21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for 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 tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:

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

24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:

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

25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:

When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart:

26 Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.

Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before the congregation.

27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

28 A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.

A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.