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All about Fools

26 Like snow in summertime and rain at harvest time,
    so honor is not right for a fool.
Like a fluttering sparrow,
    like a darting swallow,
    so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.
A whip is for the horse,
    a bridle is for the donkey,
        and a rod is for the backs of fools.

Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity,
    or you will be like him.
Answer a fool with his own stupidity,
    or he will think he is wise.
Whoever uses a fool to send a message
    cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.

Like a lame person’s limp legs,
    so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Like tying a stone to a sling,
    so is giving honor to a fool.
Like a thorn stuck in a drunk’s hand,
    so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 Like many people who destroy everything,
    so is one who hires fools or drifters.
11 As a dog goes back to its vomit,
    so a fool repeats his stupidity.
12 Have you met a person who thinks he is wise?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 A lazy person says,
    “There’s a ferocious lion out on the road!
    There’s a lion loose in the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so the lazy person turns on his bed.
15 A lazy person puts his fork in his food.
    He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.
16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.

17 Like grabbing a dog by the ears,
    so is a bystander who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel.
18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out,
    and without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire,
    so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.
22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,
    and they go down into a person’s innermost being.

23 Like a clay pot covered with cheap silver,
    so is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.
24 Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech,
    but inside he holds on to deceit.
25 When he talks charmingly, do not trust him
    because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.
26 His hatred is deceitfully hidden,
    but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.
    Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(I)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(K)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(L)
    so fools repeat their folly.(M)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(N)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(O)

13 A sluggard says,(P) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”(Q)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.(R)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.(S)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(T)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(U)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(V)

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(W)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(X)
25 Though their speech is charming,(Y) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.(Z)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(AA) will fall into it;(AB)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(AC)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth(AD) works ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth