Proverbs 26
26
1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
an undeserved curse goes nowhere.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4Do not answer fools according to their folly,
or you will be a fool yourself.
5Answer fools according to their folly,
or they will be wise in their own eyes.
6It is like cutting off one's foot and drinking down violence,
to send a message by a fool.
7The legs of a disabled person hang limp;
so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8It is like binding a stone in a sling
to give honor to a fool.
9Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10Like an archer who wounds everybody
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.#26.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain
11Like a dog that returns to its vomit
is a fool who reverts to his folly.
12Do you see persons wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for fools than for them.
13The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the road!
There is a lion in the streets!”
14As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a lazy person in bed.
15The lazy person buries a hand in the dish,
and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.
16The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem
than seven who can answer discreetly.
17Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears
is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.
18Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,
19so is one who deceives a neighbor
and says, “I am only joking!”
20For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23Like the glaze#26.23 Cn: Heb silver of dross covering an earthen vessel
are smooth#26.23 Gk: Heb burning lips with an evil heart.
24An enemy dissembles in speaking
while harboring deceit within;
25when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it,
for there are seven abominations concealed within;
26though hatred is covered with guile,
the enemy's wickedness will be exposed 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 works ruin.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 26: NRSV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 26
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society