Proverbs 26

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour <FI>is<Fi> not comely for a fool.

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

2As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.

2As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

3A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

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

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him--even thou.

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

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

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

6He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

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

7Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

7The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So <FI>is<Fi> he who is giving honour to a fool.

8As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.

9A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

9Asa thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10Great <FI>is<Fi> the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.

10As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

11As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.

11As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So isa fool that repeateth his folly.

12Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!

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

13The slothful hath said, `A lion <FI>is<Fi> in the way, A lion <FI>is<Fi> in the broad places.'

13The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.

14The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.

14Asthe door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.

15The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.

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

16Wiser <FI>is<Fi> the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven <FI>men<Fi> returning a reason.

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

17Laying hold on the ears of a dog, <FI>Is<Fi> a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.

17He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Islikeone that taketh a dog by the ears.

18As <FI>one<Fi> pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

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

19So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?'

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

20Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,

20For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

21Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

21Ascoals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.

22The words of a tale-bearer <FI>are<Fi> as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down <FI>to<Fi> the inner parts of the heart.

22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.

23Silver of dross spread over potsherd, <FI>Are<Fi> burning lips and an evil heart.

23Fervent lips and a wicked heart Arelikean earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

24By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:

25When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations <FI>are<Fi> in his heart.

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

26Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.

26Though hishatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.

27Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.

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

28A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!

28A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.