Proverbs 26
26
1 Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying,
so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly
lest you become like him—even you.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
6Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,
so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
7Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like binding a stone in a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10Like an archer who wounds everyone,
so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
11Like a dog returning to his vomit
is a fool reverting to his folly.
12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13A lazy person says “A lion is in the road!
A lion among the streets!”
14The door turns on its hinge,
and a lazy person on his bed.
15A lazy person buries his hands in the dish;
he is too tired to return it to his mouth.
16A lazy person is wiser in his eyes
than seven who answer discreetly.
17Grabbing onto the ears of a dog
passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.
18Like a maniac who shoots
firebrands, arrows, and death,
19so is a man who deceives his neighbor,
but says “Am I not joking?”
20For lack of wood, a fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
21As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire,
so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.
22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels,
and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
23Like impure silver#Literally “silver of impurities” which overlays an earthen vessel,
so are smooth lips and an evil heart#Or “mind”.
24On his lips, an enemy will pretend,
but inside#Literally “in his midst” he will harbor deceit.
25When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him,
for seven abominations are in his heart.
26Though hatred is covered with guile,
its evil will be exposed in the assembly.
27He who digs a pit, in it he will fall,
and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back.
28A tongue of deceit hates its victim,
and a flattering mouth makes ruin.
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Proverbs 26: LEB
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Proverbs 26
26
1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honour is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6Sending a message by the hands of a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honour to a fool.
9Like a thorn-bush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13A sluggard says, ‘There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!’
14As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
19is one who deceives their neighbour
and says, ‘I was only joking!’
20Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent#26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth lips with an evil heart.
24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbour deceit.
25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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