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 comely for a fool.
2As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13The slothful hath said, ‘A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.’
14The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, ‘Am not I playing?’
20Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
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