Proverbs 26
26
1Honor is no more associated with fools
than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
3Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,
and a fool with a rod to his back!
4Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.
5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.
6Trusting a fool to convey a message
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!
7A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
8Honoring a fool
is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
9A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
10An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
is like an archer who shoots at random.
11As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness.
12There is more hope for fools
than for people who think they are wise.
13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!
Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”
14As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns over in bed.
15Lazy people take food in their hand
but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
16Lazy people consider themselves smarter
than seven wise counselors.
17Interfering in someone else’s argument
is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.
18Just as damaging
as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19is someone who lies to a friend
and then says, “I was only joking.”
20Fire goes out without wood,
and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
21A quarrelsome person starts fights
as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
22Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.
23Smooth#26:23 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Burning. words may hide a wicked heart,
just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
24People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.#26:25 Hebrew seven evils.
26While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
27If you set a trap for others,
you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
it will crush you instead.
28A lying tongue hates its victims,
and flattering words cause ruin.
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Proverbs 26: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Proverbs 26
26
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
So honour is not seemly for a fool.
2As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
So the curse that is causeless lighteth not.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
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 his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
7The legs of the lame hang loose:
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As a bag of gems in a heap of stones,
So is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the month of fools
10 As an archer that woundeth all,
So is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
So is a fool that repeateth his folly.
12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way;
A lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges,
So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;
It wearieth 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 vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,
Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18As a madman who casteth firebrands,
Arrows, and death;
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour,
And saith, Am not I in sport?
20For lack of wood the fire goeth out:
And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire;
So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23Fervent lips and a wicked heart
Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,
But he layeth up deceit within him:
25When he speaketh fair, believe him not;
For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26Though his hatred cover itself with guile,
His wickedness shall be openly shewed before the congregation.
27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:
And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded;
And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
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