Proverbs 26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27 He who 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 it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 As the snow in summer, and the rain in harvest, so the fool's honour rhymeth not.

2 As a bird passeth by, and a swallow flew, so an undeserved curse doth not meet.

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

4 Answer not the fool with his foolishness, lest thou also be like him.

5 But answer the fool according to his folly, lest he be thought wise.

6 He that doeth a thing by a foolish messenger is as a lame man in his feet, and taketh hurt.

7 As it is for a cripple to dance, so it is for fools to speak of wisdom.

8 Whoso putteth honour upon a fool, it is as if one cast a jewel upon the raven stone.

9 A saying in a fool's mouth is like a thorn pricked in a drunken man's hand.

10 A good master maketh a thing right: but he that maketh a bungler maketh it vile.

11 As a dog eateth his spittle again, so is the fool that worketh his folly again. .

12 When thou seest one that thinketh himself wise, there is more hope in a fool than in him.

13 The lazy man saith, There is a young lion in the way, and a lion in the streets.

14 a lazy man turns in the best as the door in the hinge.

15 The slothful man hideth his hand in the pot, and is sore displeased, that he bringeth it to his mouth.

16 A slothful man thinketh himself wiser than seven that teach morals.

17 He that goeth before, and mixeth himself in other men's quarrels, is like one that pincheth a dog by the ears.

18 How one shooteth and killeth secretly with bullet and arrow,

19 So doth a false man with his neighbour, and speaketh afterward: I have jested.

20 When there is no more wood, the fire is quenched; and when the slanderer is gone, the strife ceaseth.

21 As coals are an ember, and wood a fire, so a contentious man maketh strife.

22 The words of the slanderer are like blows, and they go through the heart.

23 poisonous mouth and evil heart is like a shard covered with silver foam.

24 The enemy is known by his speech, though he be false in heart.

25 If he make his voice pleasing, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Whosoever hateth secretly to do evil, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the sight of the congregation.

27 He that maketh a pit shall fall three times: and he that rolleth a stone shall fall upon it.

28 A false tongue hateth him that punisheth him: and a hypocritical mouth destroyeth.