Proverbs 26 (New American Standard Bible)

Proverbs 26

Similitudes, Instructions

    ¹Like snow in summer and like ^(A)rain in harvest,
         So honor is not ^(B)fitting for a fool.
    ²Like a ^(C)sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
         So a ^(D)curse without cause does not alight.
    ³A ^(E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
         And a ^(F)rod for the back of fools.
    ^4(G)Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
         Or you will also be like him.
    ^5(H)Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
         That he not be ^(I)wise in his own eyes.
    ⁶He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
         Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
    ⁷Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
         So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
    ⁸Like one who binds a stone in a sling,
         So is he who gives honor to a fool.
    ⁹Like a thorn which falls into 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 who hires those who pass by.
    ¹¹Like ^(J)a dog that returns to its vomit
         Is a fool who ^(K)repeats his folly.
    ¹²Do you see a man ^(L)wise in his own eyes?
         ^(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
    ¹³The ^(N)sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road!
         A lion is in the open square!"
    ¹⁴As the door turns on its hinges,
         So does the ^(O)sluggard on his bed.
    ¹⁵The ^(P)sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
         He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
    ¹⁶The sluggard is ^(Q)wiser in his own eyes
         Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
    ¹⁷Like one who takes a dog by the ears
         Is he who passes by and meddles with ^(R)strife not belonging to him.
    ¹⁸Like a madman who throws
         ^(S)Firebrands, arrows and death,
    ¹⁹So is the man who ^(T)deceives his neighbor,
         And says, "^(U)Was I not joking?"
    ²⁰For lack of wood the fire goes out,
         And where there is no ^(V)whisperer, ^(W)contention quiets down.
    ²¹Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
         So is a ^(X)contentious man to kindle strife.
    ²²The ^(Y)words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
         And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
    ²³Like an earthen ^(Z)vessel overlaid with silver ^(AA)dross
         Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
    ²⁴He who ^(AB)hates disguises it with his lips,
         But he lays up ^(AC)deceit in his heart.
    ²⁵When he ^(AD)speaks graciously, do not believe him,
         For there are seven abominations in his heart.
    ²⁶Though his hatred ^(AE)covers itself with guile,
         His wickedness will be ^(AF)revealed before the assembly.
    ²⁷He who ^(AG)digs a pit will fall into it,
         And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
    ²⁸A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
         And a ^(AH)flattering mouth works ruin.