Proverbs 26
1
As snow in summer and rain
in harvest,
So honor is not
fitting for a fool.
2 Like a flitting
sparrow, like a flying
swallow,
So a curse without
cause shall not alight.
3 A whip for the
horse,
A bridle for the
donkey,
And a rod for the
fool’s back.
4 Do not answer a
fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like
him.
5 Answer a fool
according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his
own eyes.
6 He who 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
limp
Is a proverb in
the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds
a stone in a sling
Is he who gives
honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn
that goes into the
hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in
the mouth of fools.
10 The great God
who formed everything
Gives the fool his
hire and the transgressor
his wages.[a]
11 As a dog returns
to his own vomit,
So a fool
repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man
wise in his own eyes?
There is more
hope for a fool than for
him.
13 The lazy man
says, “There is a
lion in the road!
A fierce lion is
in the streets!”
14 As a door
turns on its hinges,
So does the
lazy man on his bed.
15 The lazy man
buries his hand in the bowl;[b]
It wearies him to
bring it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy man is
wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can
answer sensibly.
17 He who passes by
and meddles in a
quarrel not his own
Is like one who
takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who
throws firebrands, arrows,
and death,
19 Is the man
who deceives his
neighbor,
And says, “I was only
joking!”
20 Where there is
no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is
no talebearer, strife
ceases.
21 As charcoal
is to burning coals,
and wood to fire,
So is a
contentious man to kindle
strife.
22 The words of a
talebearer are like
tasty trifles,
And they go down into
the inmost body.
23 Fervent lips with
a wicked heart
Are like
earthenware covered with
silver dross.
24 He who hates,
disguises it with his
lips,
And lays up deceit
within himself;
25 When he speaks
kindly, do not believe him,
For there are
seven abominations in his
heart;
26 Though his
hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be
revealed before the
assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit
will fall into it,
And he who rolls a
stone will have it roll back
on him.
28 A lying tongue
hates those who are
crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth
works ruin.
Footnotes:
-
Proverbs 26:10 The
Hebrew is difficult;
ancient and modern
translators differ
greatly.
-
Proverbs 26:15
Compare 19:24
