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
All about Fools
1Like snow in summertime and rain at harvest time,
so honor is not right for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow,
like a darting swallow,
so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.
3A whip is for the horse,
a bridle is for the donkey,
and a rod is for the backs of fools.
4Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or you will be like him.
5Answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or he will think he is wise.
6Whoever uses a fool to send a message
cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.
7 ⌞Like⌟ a lame person’s limp legs,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8Like tying a stone to a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 ⌞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.
11As a dog goes back to its vomit,
⌞so⌟ a fool repeats his stupidity.
12Have you met a person who thinks he is wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13A 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.
15A lazy person puts his fork in his food.
He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.
16A 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.
18Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20Without 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.
22The 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.
24Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech,
but inside he holds on to deceit.
25When he talks charmingly, do not trust him
because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.
26His hatred is deceitfully hidden,
but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.
Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
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