Mishlei (Pro) 26
26
1Like snow in summer or rain at harvest-time,
so honor for a fool is out of place.
2Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow,
an undeserved curse will come home to roost.
3A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4Don’t answer a fool in terms of his folly,
or you will be descending to his level;
5but answer a fool as his folly deserves,
so that he won’t think he is wise.
6Telling a message to a fool and sending him out
is like cutting off one’s feet and drinking violence.
7The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless;
likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Like one who ties his stone to the sling
is he who gives honor to a fool.
9Like a thorn branch in the hand of a drunk
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10A master can make anything,
but hiring a fool is like hiring some passer-by.
11Just as a dog returns to his vomit,
a fool repeats his folly.
12Do you see someone who thinks himself wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for him!
13The lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the streets!
A lion is roaming loose out there!”
14The door turns on its hinges,
and the lazy man on his bed.
15The lazy person buries his hand in the dish
but is too tired to return it to his mouth.
16A lazy man is wiser in his own view
than seven who can answer with sense.
17Like someone who grabs a dog by the ears
is a passer-by who mixes in a fight not his own.
18Like a madman shooting deadly arrows and firebrands
19is one who deceives another, then says, “It was just a joke.”
20If there’s no wood, the fire goes out;
if nobody gossips, contention stops.
21As coals are to embers and wood to fire
is a quarrelsome person to kindling strife.
22A slanderer’s words are tasty morsels;
they slide right down into the belly.
23Like silver slag overlaid on a clay pot
are lips that burn [with friendship] over a hating heart.
24He who hates may hide it with his speech;
but inside, he harbors deceit.
25He may speak pleasantly, but don’t trust him;
for seven abominations are in his heart.
26His hatred may be concealed by deceit,
but his wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.
28A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
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Mishlei (Pro) 26: CJB
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Learn More About Complete Jewish BibleProverbs 26
26
1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6Sending a message by the hands of a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.
9Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
19is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
20Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent#26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth lips with an evil heart.
24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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