Proverbs 26

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

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

2As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.

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

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

8As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

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

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

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.

10A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.

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

11As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.

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.

12Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

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

13The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!

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

14[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.

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

15The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

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

16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.

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

17He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

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.

18As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

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

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

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

20Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.

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

21[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.

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

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

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.

23Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

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

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:

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

25when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

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

26Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.

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

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

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.

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

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