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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Proverbs 26: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 26
26
1Like snow in the summer or rain at harvest,
so honor isn’t appropriate for a fool.
2Like a darting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
so an undeserved curse never arrives.
3A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4Don’t answer fools according to their folly,
or you will become like them yourself.
5Answer fools according to their folly,
or they will deem themselves wise.
6Sending messages with a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking down violence.
7As legs dangle from a disabled person,
so does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like tying a stone in a sling,
so is giving respect to a fool.
9Like a thorny bush in the hand of a drunk,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10Like an archer who wounds someone randomly,
so is one who hires a fool or a passerby.
11Like a dog that returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats foolish mistakes.
12Do you see people who consider themselves wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13A lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the path!
A lion in the plazas!”
14As a door turns on its hinge,
so do lazy people in their beds.
15Lazy people bury their hand into the bowl,
too tired to return it to their mouth.
16Lazy people think they are wiser
than seven people who answer sensibly.
17Like yanking the ears of a dog,
so is one who passes by and gets involved in another person’s fight.
18Like a crazy person shooting deadly flaming arrows
19are those who deceive their neighbor and say, “Hey, I was only joking!”
20Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossips, conflict calms down.
21Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire,
quarrelsome people kindle strife.
22The words of gossips are like choice snacks;
they go down to the inmost parts.
23Smooth#26.23 LXX; Heb uncertain lips and an evil heart
are like silver coating on clay.
24Hateful people mislead with their lips,
keeping their deception within.
25Though they speak graciously, don’t believe them,
for seven horrible things are in their heart.
26They may cover their hatred with trickery,
but their evil will be revealed in public.
27Those who dig a pit will fall in it;
those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them.
28A lying tongue hates those it crushes;
a flattering mouth causes destruction.
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