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,
a curse that is causeless does not alight.
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 you be like him yourself.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like one who binds the stone in the sling
is he who gives honor to a fool.
9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10Like an archer who wounds everybody
is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.#26.10 The Hebrew text of this verse is uncertain
11 #
2 Pet 2.22. Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool that repeats his folly.
12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The sluggard 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 sluggard on his bed.
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who can answer discreetly.
17He who meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18Like a madman who throws firebrands,
arrows, and death,
19is the man who deceives his 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 to hot embers and wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome man 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.
24He who hates, dissembles with his lips
and harbors deceit in his heart;
25when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26though his hatred be covered with guile,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling.
28A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Proverbs 26
26
All about Fools
1Like snow in summertime and rain at harvest time,
so honor is not right for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow,
like a darting swallow,
so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.
3A whip is for the horse,
a bridle is for the donkey,
and a rod is for the backs of fools.
4Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or you will be like him.
5Answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or he will think he is wise.
6Whoever uses a fool to send a message
cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.
7 ⌞Like⌟ a lame person’s limp legs,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8Like tying a stone to a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 ⌞Like⌟ a thorn stuck in a drunk’s hand,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 ⌞Like⌟ many people who destroy everything,
so is one who hires fools or drifters.
11As a dog goes back to its vomit,
⌞so⌟ a fool repeats his stupidity.
12Have you met a person who thinks he is wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13A lazy person says,
“There’s a ferocious lion out on the road!
There’s a lion loose in the streets!”
14 ⌞As⌟ a door turns on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns on his bed.
15A lazy person puts his fork in his food.
He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.
16A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.
17 ⌞Like⌟ grabbing a dog by the ears,
⌞so⌟ is a bystander who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel.
18Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20Without wood a fire goes out,
and without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 ⌞As⌟ charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire,
so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.
22The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,
and they go down into a person’s innermost being.
23 ⌞Like⌟ a clay pot covered with cheap silver,
⌞so⌟ is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.
24Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech,
but inside he holds on to deceit.
25When he talks charmingly, do not trust him
because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.
26His hatred is deceitfully hidden,
but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.
Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
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