Proverbs 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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Proverbs 26: ESV

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Proverbs 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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