Proverbs 26
26
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
So honour is not seemly for a fool.
2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying,
So the curse causeless shall not come.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the fool's back.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7The legs of the lame are not equal:
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As 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.
10The great God that formed all things
Both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11As a dog returneth to his vomit,
So a fool returneth to his folly.
12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13The 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.
15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom;
It grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
Than seven men that can render a reason.
17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him,
Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18As a mad man who casteth firebrands,
Arrows, and death,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour,
And saith, Am not I in sport?
20Where 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.
22The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23Burning lips and a wicked heart
Are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,
And layeth up deceit within him;
25When 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.
27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:
And he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it;
And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
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Proverbs 26: KJV
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Rights in the Authorized (King James) Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Published by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Learn More About King James VersionProverbs 26
26
1It shouldn’t snow in summer or rain at harvest.
Neither should a foolish person ever be honored.
2Curses will not harm someone who is innocent;
they are like sparrows or swallows that fly around and never land.
3Whips are for horses, and harnesses are for donkeys,
so paddles are good for fools.
4Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or you will be just like them.
5Answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or they will think they are really wise.
6Sending a message by a foolish person
is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.
7A wise saying spoken by a fool
is as useless as the legs of a crippled person.
8Giving honor to a foolish person
is like tying a stone in a slingshot.
9A wise saying spoken by a fool
is like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk.
10Hiring a foolish person or anyone just passing by
is like an archer shooting at just anything.
11A fool who repeats his foolishness
is like a dog that goes back to what it has thrown up.
12There is more hope for a foolish person
than for those who think they are wise.
13The lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the road!
There’s a lion in the streets!”
14Like a door turning back and forth on its hinges,
the lazy person turns over and over in bed.
15Lazy people may put their hands in the dish,
but they are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
16The lazy person thinks he is wiser
than seven people who give sensible answers.
17Interfering in someone else’s quarrel as you pass by
is like grabbing a dog by the ears.
18Like a madman shooting
deadly, burning arrows
19is the one who tricks a neighbor
and then says, “I was just joking.”
20Without wood, a fire will go out,
and without gossip, quarreling will stop.
21Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going,
a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going.
22The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food;
people like to gobble them up.
23Kind words from a wicked mind
are like a shiny coating on a clay pot.
24Those who hate you may try to fool you with their words,
but in their minds they are planning evil.
25People’s words may be kind, but don’t believe them,
because their minds are full of evil thoughts.
26Lies can hide hate,
but the evil will be plain to everyone.
27Whoever digs a pit for others will fall into it.
Whoever tries to roll a boulder down on others will be crushed by it.
28Liars hate the people they hurt,
and false praise can ruin others.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.