Proverbs 26

1Like snow in summer and rain when the grain is being cut, so honour is not natural for the foolish.

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

2As the sparrow in her wandering and the swallow in her flight, so the curse does not come without a cause.

2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

3A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

4Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

5Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is cutting off his feet and drinking in damage.

6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

7The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish.

7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.

8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man overcome by drink, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man.

9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10Like an archer wounding all who go by, is a foolish man overcome by drink.

10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.

11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

12Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him.

12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

13The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work on his bed.

14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin: lifting it again to his mouth is a weariness to him.

15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

17He who gets mixed up in a fight which is not his business, is like one who takes a dog by the ears while it is going by.

17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18As one who is off his head sends about flaming sticks and arrows of death,

18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19So is the man who gets the better of his neighbour by deceit, and says, Am I not doing so in sport?

19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

20Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended.

20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.

21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23Smooth lips and an evil heart are like a vessel of earth plated with silver waste.

23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24With his lips the hater makes things seem what they are not, but deceit is stored up inside him;

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25When he says fair words, have no belief in him; for in his heart are seven evils:

25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26Though his hate is covered with deceit, his sin will be seen openly before the meeting of the people.

26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

27He who makes a hole in the earth will himself go falling into it: and on him by whom a stone is rolled the stone will come back again.

27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

28A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.

28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.