Proverbs 26
26
1Like snow in summer or #[1 Sam. 12:17] rain in harvest,
so #[ver. 8] honor is #ch. 17:7; 19:10not fitting for a fool.
2Like #ch. 27:8; Ps. 84:3 a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
# [Num. 23:8; Deut. 23:5; 2 Sam. 16:12] a curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 # [Ps. 32:9] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and #See ch. 19:29a rod for the back of fools.
4 # [2 Sam. 16:11; 2 Kgs. 18:36; Luke 23:9] Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 # See Matt. 16:1-4; 21:24-27 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be #ch. 28:11; [Rom. 12:16]wise in his own eyes.
6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and #[ch. 13:2; Job 15:16]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 #[ver. 1]one who gives honor to a fool.
9Like #[ch. 23:35]a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10Like an archer who wounds everyone
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.#26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby
11Like #Cited 2 Pet. 2:22 a dog that returns to his vomit
is #[Ex. 8:15]a fool who repeats his folly.
12Do you see a man who is #ch. 28:11; [Rom. 12:16] wise in his own eyes?
# ch. 29:20 There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 # ch. 22:13 The 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.
15 # ch. 19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16The sluggard is #[See ver. 12 above] wiser in his own eyes
# [ver. 25; ch. 6:16]; See Job 5:19 than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18Like a madman who throws #[Isa. 50:11]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 #ch. 16:28 whisperer, #ch. 22:10quarreling ceases.
21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
so is #See ch. 15:18a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 # ch. 18:8 The words of #[See ver. 20 above]a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 # [Matt. 23:27; Luke 11:39] Like the #See ch. 25:4glaze#26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross covering an earthen vessel
are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
and harbors deceit in his heart;
25 # See Ps. 28:3 when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are #[ver. 16]seven abominations in his heart;
26though his hatred be covered with deception,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 # [ch. 28:10]; See Ps. 7:15 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Proverbs 26
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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