Proverbs 26:3-12
English Standard Version
3 (A)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and (B)a rod for the back of fools.
4 (C)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 (D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be (E)wise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and (F)drinks violence.
7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling
is (G)one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like (H)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like (I)a dog that returns to his vomit
is (J)a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is (K)wise in his own eyes?
(L)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby
Proverbs 26:3-12
New International Version
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(A)
and a rod for the backs of fools!(B)
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.(C)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.(D)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool(E)
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.(G)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(H)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(I)
so fools repeat their folly.(J)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(K)
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(L)
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