Proverbs — Chapter 26

1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.

2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

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

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

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

6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

7Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.

11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

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

13The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”

14As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.

15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

17Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,

19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.

25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.

26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

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

2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

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

6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.

2As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.

7The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.

9[As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10[As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

11As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly.

12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

13The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.

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

15The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.

17He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,

19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?

20For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

21[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.

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

23Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:

25When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:

26Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.

27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

28A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.

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

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

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

6Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.

7Like legs dangle uselessly from the lame, so a proverb dangles in the mouth of fools.

8Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.

9Like a thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, so a proverb has gone up into the mouth of a fool.

10Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passerby.

11Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion— there is more hope for a fool than for him.

13The sluggard has said, “There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!”

14Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.

15The sluggard has plunged his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own opinion than seven people who respond with good sense.

17Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.

18Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows,

19so is a person who has deceived his neighbor, and said, “Was I not only joking?”

20Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.

21Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; and they have gone down into a person’s innermost being.

23Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.

25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him.

26Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.

27The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone—it will come back on him.

28A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

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

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