Proverbs 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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Proverbs 26: RV1895

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Learn More About Revised Version with Apocrypha 1885, 1895

Proverbs 26

1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,#1Sm 12:17

honor is inappropriate for a fool.#Pr 17:7; 19:10

2Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,#Pr 27:8

an undeserved curse goes nowhere.#Nm 23:8; Dt 23:5; 2Sm 16:12

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,#Ps 32:9

and a rod for the backs of fools.#Pr 10:13; 19:29

4Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness#Pr 23:9; 29:9; Mt 7:6; Lk 23:9

or you’ll be like him yourself.

5Answer a fool according to his foolishness#Mt 16:1–4; 21:24–27

or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.#Pr 26:12; 28:11; Rm 12:16

6The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand#Pr 10:26; 25:13

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.#Pr 13:2

7A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like lame legs that hang limp.

8Giving honor to a fool

is like binding a stone in a sling.

9A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like a stick with thorns,

brandished by#26:9 Lit thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard.

10The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by

is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately.

11As a dog returns to its vomit,

so also a fool repeats his foolishness.#2Pt 2:22

12Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes?#Pr 3:7; 26:5; Rm 12:16

There is more hope for a fool than for him.#Pr 29:20

13The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road —

a lion in the public square!” #Pr 22:13

14A door turns on its hinges,

and a slacker, on his bed.#Pr 6:9–10; 19:15

15The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;

he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!#Pr 12:27; 19:24

16In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser#Pr 26:5,12; 28:11

than seven who can answer sensibly.

17A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his

is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

18Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,#Is 50:11

19so is the person who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20Without wood, fire goes out;

without a gossip, conflict dies down.#Pr 16:28; 22:10

21As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.#Pr 15:18

22A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being.#26:22 Lit to the chambers of the belly#Pr 18:8

23Smooth#26:23 LXX; MT reads Burning lips with an evil heart

are like glaze on an earthen vessel.#Mt 23:27; Lk 11:39

24A hateful person disguises himself with his speech

and harbors deceit within.

25When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,

for there are seven detestable things in his heart.#Ps 28:3

26Though his hatred is concealed by deception,

his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

27The one who digs a pit will fall into it,

and whoever rolls a stone —

it will come back on him.#Est 7:10; Jb 4:8; Pr 28:10; Dn 6:24; Mt 26:52

28A lying tongue hates those it crushes,

and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

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