Proverbs 26

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

1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

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

2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.

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

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

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

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like 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 eyes.

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

6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

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

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, 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 one who binds a stone in a sling, so 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 a fool.

9 Like a thorn bush that goes 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 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

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

11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who 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.

12 Do you see a man 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!”

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”

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

14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.

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

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back 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 eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

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

17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,

18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,

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

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”

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

20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

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

21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

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

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

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

23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

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

24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.

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

25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, 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 His malice may be concealed by deception, but 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.

27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

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

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.