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26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.

As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.

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

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

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

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

The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

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

10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.

11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.

12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!

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

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

16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.

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

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

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

20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.

21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.

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

23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:

25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.

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

28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh 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