Proverbs 26:17-28

International Children’s Bible

¹⁷ To grab a dog by the ears is asking for trouble.
    So is interfering in someone else’s quarrel if you’re just passing by.

^18-19 A person shouldn’t trick his neighbor
    and then say, “I was just joking!”
That is like a madman shooting
    deadly, burning arrows.

²⁰ Without wood, a fire will go out.
    And without gossip, quarreling will stop.

²¹ Charcoal and wood keep a fire going.
    In the same way, a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going.

²² The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food.
    People take them all in.

²³ Kind words from a wicked mind
    are like a shiny coating on a clay pot.

²⁴ A person who hates you may fool you with his words.
    But in his mind he is planning evil.
²⁵ His words are kind, but don’t believe him.
    His mind is full of evil thoughts.
²⁶ He hides his hate with lies.
    But his evil will be plain to everyone.

²⁷ Whoever digs a deep trap for others will fall into it himself.
    Whoever tries to roll a boulder over others will be crushed by it.

²⁸ A liar hates the people he hurts.
    And false praise can ruin others.