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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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
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2#Nu 23:8; 2Sa 16:12 As the bird by flitting, as the swallow by flying,
so the curse without cause will not alight.
3#Ps 32:9; Pr 10:13 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the fool’s back.
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you also be like unto him.
5#Pr 28:11; Mt 16:1–4 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6#Pr 10:26 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off the feet and drinks violence.
7#Pr 26:9 The legs of the lame are not equal;
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8#Pr 26:1 As he who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9#Pr 23:35 As a thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10The great God who formed all things
rewards the fool and rewards the transgressor.
11#Ex 8:15; 2Pe 2:22 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool returns to his folly.
12#Pr 29:20; Mt 21:31; Pr 26:5 Do you see a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13#Pr 22:13 The slothful man says, “There is a lion in the way!
A lion is in the streets!”
14As the door turns upon his hinges,
so does the slothful upon his bed.
15#Pr 19:24 The slothful buries his hand in his bowl;
it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16#Pr 26:12 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
than seven men who can answer reasonably.
17He who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him
is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18As a madman who casts
firebrands, arrows, and death,
19#Eph 5:4 so is the man who deceives his neighbor,
and says, “I was only joking.”
20#Pr 22:10; 16:28 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21#Pr 15:18; 29:22 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22#Pr 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
and go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23Burning lips and a wicked heart
are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24#Pr 12:20 He who hates dissembles with his lips,
and lays up deceit within him;
25#Ps 28:3 when he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26though his hatred is covered by deceit,
his wickedness will be shown before the whole congregation.
27#Pr 28:10; Est 7:10 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28#Pr 29:5 A lying tongue hates those who are afflicted by it,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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