Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 26
26
1Like snow in summer, and rain in harvest, So esteem is not fitting for a fool.
2As a bird wanders, as a swallow flies about, So a curse without cause does not come.
3A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also become like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off feet, drinks damage.
7The legs of the lame hang limp So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like one binding a stone in a sling, So is he who gives esteem to a fool.
9A thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10An archer who wounds anyone, Is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
12Have you seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more expectancy for a fool than for him.
13The lazy one says, “There is a lion in the way! A fierce lion is in the streets!”
14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy one turn on his bed.
15The lazy one buries his hand in a dish; It tires him to bring it back to his mouth.
16The lazy one is wiser in his own eyes Than seven rendering advice.
17A passer-by meddling in a strife not his own Is like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears.
18Like a madman who throws sparks, arrows, and death,
19So is a man who deceived his neighbour, And says, “I was only joking!”
20For lack of wood, the fire goes out. And without a slanderer, strife ceases.
21As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22The words of a slanderer are as dainty morsels, Which go down into the inner parts of the heart.
23Burning lips with an evil heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24He who hates, pretends with his lips, And lays up deceit within him;
25Though he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26Hatred is covered by deceit. His evil is disclosed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit falls into it, And whoever rolls a stone, it turns back on him.
28A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works ruin.
Currently Selected:
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 26: TS2009
Highlight
Share
Copy
![None](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapi.com%2F58%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fweb-assets.youversion.com%2Fapp-icons%2Fen.png&w=128&q=75)
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright© 1993 – 2015 by the Institute for Scripture Research (ISR). All rights reserved.
Proverbs 26
26
1Honoring someone stupid is as inappropriate as snow in the summer or rain during harvest.
2A curse that isn't deserved won't land on the person, like a fluttering sparrow or a flitting swallow.
3Horses need a whip, donkeys need a bridle, and stupid people need a rod on their backs!
4Don't answer stupid people following their stupidity, or you'll become as bad as them.
5Answer stupid people following their stupidity, otherwise they'll think they're wise.#26:5. While this verse appears to contradict the previous one, there is a play on words here. In the first, “following their stupidity” means “agreeing with it.” In the second, the phrase means “as it deserves.”
6Trusting someone stupid to deliver a message is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.
7A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as useless as a lame person's legs.
8Honoring someone stupid is as pointless as tying a stone into a sling.#26:8. For if the stone is tied in, the slingshot cannot function.
9A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as ridiculous as a thorn bush waved around by a drunk.
10Anyone who hires someone stupid or just a passer-by is like an archer wounding people by shooting arrows at random.#26:10. The Hebrew of this verse is unclear.
11Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
12Have you seen a man who is wise in his own eyes? There's more hope for stupid people than for him!
13Lazy people are the ones who say, “There's a lion on the road—a lion running around the streets!”#26:13. In other words, they make excuses for not going out to work.
14A lazy person turns in bed like a door turns on its hinge.
15Lazy people put their hands in a dish, but are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
16In their own eyes lazy people are wiser than many#26:16. In the text the number seven is given, symbolic of a large number, completion. This is used in a similar way in verse 25. sensible advisors.
17Interfering in someone else's quarrel is like grabbing a stray dog by the ears.
18You're like a crazy person firing off blazing arrows and killing people
19if you lie to your friend and then say, “I was only joking!”
20Without wood, the fire goes out; and without gossips, arguments stop.
21An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
22Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
23Smooth#26:23. Septuagint reading. talking with evil intent is like a shiny lead glaze on an earthenware pot.#26:23. The implication here is that like a fine finish given to a cheap pot, pleasant words can mask bad motives.
24People say nice things to you even though they hate you; deep down they're just lying to you.
25When people talk nicely to you, don't believe them—their minds are full of hate for you.
26Even though their hatred may be hidden by cunning tricks, their evil will be revealed to everyone.
27Those who dig pits to trap others will fall in themselves, and those who start boulders rolling will be crushed themselves.
28If you tell lies, you show you hate your victims; if you flatter people, you cause disaster.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
![None](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapi.com%2F58%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fweb-assets.youversion.com%2Fapp-icons%2Fen.png&w=128&q=75)
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com