Proverbs 26

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

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

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

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 donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

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

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

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 become wise in his own eyes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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