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.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 26: RSV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Proverbs 26
26
1Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow,
like a darting swallow,
so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
3A whip is for the horse,
a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools!
4Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you also be like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As one who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10As an archer who wounds all,
so is he who hires a fool
or he who hires those who pass by.
11As a dog that returns to his vomit,
so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12Do you see a man 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!
A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14As the door turns on its hinges,
so does the sluggard on his bed.
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish.
He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer with discretion.
17Like one who grabs a dog’s ears
is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
20For lack of wood a fire goes out.
Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21As coals are to hot embers,
and wood to fire,
so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
they go down into the innermost parts.
23Like silver dross on an earthen vessel
are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
but he harbors evil in his heart.
25When his speech is charming, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26His malice may be concealed by deception,
but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.
Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28A lying tongue hates those it hurts;
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
PUBLIC DOMAIN (not copyrighted)