Proverbs 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.
3A whip is used to guide a horse, and a harness is used for a donkey.
In the same way, a paddle is used on a foolish person to guide him.
4Don’t give a foolish person a foolish answer.
If you do, you will be just like him.
5But answer a foolish person as he should be answered.
If you don’t, he will think he is really wise.
6Don’t send a message by a foolish person.
That would be like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.
7A wise saying spoken by a fool does no good.
It is like the legs of a crippled person.
8Giving honor to a foolish person does no good.
It 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.
10Someone might employ a foolish person or anyone just passing by.
That employer is like an archer who shoots at anything he sees.
11A dog eats what it throws up.
And a foolish person repeats his foolishness.
12Some people think they are wise.
There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.
13The lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the road.
There’s a lion in the streets!”
14The lazy person is like a door that turns back and forth on its hinges.
He stays in bed and turns over and over.
15The lazy person may put his hand in the dish.
But he’s too tired to lift the food to his mouth.
16The lazy person thinks he is wiser
than seven people who give sensible answers.
17To grab a dog by the ears is asking for trouble.
So is interfering in someone else’s quarrel if you’re just passing by.
18-19A person shouldn’t trick his neighbor
and then say, “I was just joking!”
That is like a madman shooting
deadly, burning arrows.
20Without wood, a fire will go out.
And without gossip, quarreling will stop.
21Charcoal and wood keep a fire going.
In the same way, a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going.
22The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food.
People take them all in.
23Kind words from a wicked mind
are like a shiny coating on a clay pot.
24A person who hates you may fool you with his words.
But in his mind he is planning evil.
25His words are kind, but don’t believe him.
His mind is full of evil thoughts.
26He hides his hate with lies.
But his evil will be plain to everyone.
27Whoever digs a deep trap for others will fall into it himself.
Whoever tries to roll a boulder over others will be crushed by it.
28A liar hates the people he hurts.
And false praise can ruin others.
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Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 26
26
1Like snow in summer, and rain in harvest, So esteem is not fitting for a fool.
2As a bird wanders, as a swallow flies about, So a curse without cause does not come.
3A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also become like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off feet, drinks damage.
7The legs of the lame hang limp So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like one binding a stone in a sling, So is he who gives esteem to a fool.
9A thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10An archer who wounds anyone, Is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
12Have you seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more expectancy for a fool than for him.
13The lazy one says, “There is a lion in the way! A fierce lion is in the streets!”
14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy one turn on his bed.
15The lazy one buries his hand in a dish; It tires him to bring it back to his mouth.
16The lazy one is wiser in his own eyes Than seven rendering advice.
17A passer-by meddling in a strife not his own Is like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears.
18Like a madman who throws sparks, arrows, and death,
19So is a man who deceived his neighbour, And says, “I was only joking!”
20For lack of wood, the fire goes out. And without a slanderer, strife ceases.
21As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22The words of a slanderer are as dainty morsels, Which go down into the inner parts of the heart.
23Burning lips with an evil heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24He who hates, pretends with his lips, And lays up deceit within him;
25Though he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26Hatred is covered by deceit. His evil is disclosed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit falls into it, And whoever rolls a stone, it turns back on him.
28A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works ruin.
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