Proverbs 26

Similitudes, Instructions

1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,

So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] #26:1 See note 1:7.fool. [Is 32:6]

2Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,

So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving]. [Num 23:8]

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].

4Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly,

Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.

5Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly,

Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him]. [Matt 16:1-4; 21:24-27]

6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool

Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence]. [Prov 13:17]

7Like the legs which are useless to the lame,

So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].

8Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw],

So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.

9Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man,

So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].

10Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone,

So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by.

11Like a dog that returns to his vomit

Is a fool who repeats his foolishness.

12Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit?

There is more hope for a fool than for him. [Prov 29:20; Luke 18:11; Rom 12:16; Rev 3:17]

13The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, “There is a lion in the road!

A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work I will be killed]!” [Prov 22:13]

14As the door turns on its hinges,

So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].

15The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity];

It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. [Prov 19:24]

16The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven [sensible] men who can give a discreet answer.

17Like one who grabs a dog by the ears [and is likely to be bitten]

Is he who, passing by, stops to meddle with a dispute that is none of his business.

18Like a madman who throws

Firebrands, arrows, and death,

19So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend)

And then says, “Was I not joking?” [Eph 5:4]

20For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down.

21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife. [Prov 15:18; 29:22]

22The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];

They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon]. [Prov 18:8]

23Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value]

Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart.

24He who hates, disguises it with his lips,

But he stores up deceit in his heart.

25When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him,

For seven abominations are in his heart.

26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit,

His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly.

27Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him. [Ps 7:15, 16; 9:15; 10:2; 57:6; Prov 28:10; Eccl 10:8]

28A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes,

And a flattering mouth works ruin.

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Proverbs 26

1Praise for a fool is out of place, like snow in summer or rain at harvest time.

2Curses cannot hurt you unless you deserve them. They are like birds that fly by and never settle.

3You have to whip a horse, you have to bridle a donkey, and you have to beat a fool.

4If you answer a silly question, you are just as silly as the person who asked it.

5Give a silly answer to a silly question, and the one who asked it will realize that he's not as clever as he thinks.

6If you let a fool deliver a message, you might as well cut off your own feet; you are asking for trouble.

7A fool can use a proverb about as well as crippled people can use their legs.

8Praising someone who is stupid makes as much sense as tying a stone in a sling.

9A fool quoting a wise saying reminds you of a drunk trying to pick a thorn out of his hand.

10An employer who hires any fool that comes along is only hurting everybody concerned.#26.10 Verse 10 in Hebrew is unclear.

11A fool doing some stupid thing a second time is like a dog going back to its vomit.

12The most stupid fool is better off than someone who thinks he is wise when he is not.

13Why don't lazy people ever get out of the house? What are they afraid of? Lions?

14Lazy people turn over in bed. They get no farther than a door swinging on its hinges.

15Some people are too lazy to put food in their own mouths.

16A lazy person will think he is more intelligent than seven people who can give good reasons for their opinions.

17Getting involved in an argument that is none of your business is like going down the street and grabbing a dog by the ears.

18-19Someone who misleads someone else and then claims that he was only joking is like a mad person playing with a deadly weapon.

20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, quarrelling stops.

21Charcoal keeps the embers glowing, wood keeps the fire burning, and troublemakers keep arguments alive.

22Gossip is so tasty! How we love to swallow it!

23Insincere#26.23 One ancient translation Insincere; Hebrew Burning. talk that hides what you are really thinking is like a fine glaze#26.23 Probable text fine glaze; Hebrew unrefined silver. on a cheap clay pot.

24A hypocrite hides hatred behind flattering words. 25They may sound fine, but don't believe him, because his heart is filled to the brim with hate. 26He may disguise his hatred, but everyone will see the evil things he does.

27People who set traps for others get caught themselves. People who start landslides get crushed.

28You have to hate someone to want to hurt him with lies. Insincere talk brings nothing but ruin.

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