Proverbs 26

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

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.

As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.

3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

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

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him.

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

Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.

6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor 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.

Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.

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

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

12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Do you see someone who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”

The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”

14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.

As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.

17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.

18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,

Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,

19 is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”

is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”

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

For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.

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

As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

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

The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.

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

One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.

25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, 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 is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.