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26 愚人得尊榮本不合宜,
    如夏天降雪、收割時下雨。
麻雀翻飛,燕子翱翔,
    咒詛不會無端降臨。
鞭子打馬,韁繩勒驢,
    棍棒責打愚人的背。
別照愚人的愚昧回答他,
    免得你像他一樣。
要照愚人的愚昧回答他,
    免得他自以為有智慧。
靠愚人傳信,
    如同砍斷自己的腳,
    自討苦吃。
愚人口中說箴言,
    如同跛子空有腿。
把尊榮給愚人,
    就像把石子綁在甩石器上。
愚人口中說箴言,
    如同醉漢握荊棘。
10 雇用愚人或路人,
    如同弓箭手亂箭傷人。
11 愚人一再重複愚昧事,
    就像狗回頭吃所吐的。
12 自以為有智慧的人,
    還不如愚人有希望。
13 懶惰人說:「路上有獅子,
    街上有猛獅。」
14 懶惰人賴在床上滾來滾去,
    就像門在門軸上轉來轉去。
15 懶惰人手放在餐盤,
    卻懶得送食物進嘴。
16 懶惰人自以為比七個善於應對的人更有智慧。
17 插手他人的糾紛,
    猶如揪狗的耳朵。
18-19 欺騙鄰舍還說是開玩笑,
    如同瘋子亂拋火把、亂射箭。
20 沒有木柴,火自然熄滅;
    沒有閒話,爭端便平息。
21 好鬥之人煽動爭端,
    如同餘火加炭、火上加柴。
22 閒言閒語如可口的美食,
    輕易進入人的五臟六腑。
23 火熱的嘴,邪惡的心,
    猶如瓦器鍍了層銀。
24 怨恨人的用美言掩飾自己,
    心中卻藏著詭詐。
25 縱然他甜言蜜語,你也不可信他,
    因為他心中充滿各種可憎之事。
26 雖然他用詭計掩飾怨恨,
    他的邪惡必被會眾揭穿。
27 挖陷阱的,必自陷其中;
    滾石頭的,必自傷己身。
28 撒謊的舌恨它所害的人,
    諂媚的嘴帶來毀滅。

26 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,(A)
honour is inappropriate for a fool.(B)

Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,(C)
an undeserved curse goes nowhere.(D)

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(E)
and a rod for the backs of fools.(F)
Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness(G)
or you’ll be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his foolishness(H)
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.(I)
The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand(J)
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.(K)
A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.
Giving honour to a fool
is like binding a stone in a sling.
A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by[a] the hand of a drunkard.
10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by
is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so also a fool repeats his foolishness.(L)
12 Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes?(M)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.(N)

13 The slacker says, ‘There’s a lion in the road –
a lion in the public square! ’(O)
14 A door turns on its hinges,
and a slacker, on his bed.(P)
15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!(Q)
16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser(R)
than seven who can answer sensibly.

17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his
is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,(S)
19 so is the person who deceives his neighbour
and says, ‘I was only joking! ’

20 Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down.(T)
21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(U)
22 A gossip’s words are like delicacies
that go down to one’s innermost being.[b](V)

23 Smooth[c] lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel.(W)
24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech
and harbours deceit within.
25 When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven detestable things in his heart.(X)
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever rolls a stone –
it will come back on him.(Y)
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

Footnotes

  1. 26:9 Lit thorn that goes up into
  2. 26:22 Lit to the chambers of the belly
  3. 26:23 LXX; MT reads Burning

26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(I)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(K)
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,(L)
    so fools repeat their folly.(M)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(N)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(O)

13 A sluggard says,(P) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”(Q)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.(R)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.(S)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(T)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(U)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(V)

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(W)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(X)
25 Though their speech is charming,(Y) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.(Z)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(AA) will fall into it;(AB)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(AC)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth(AD) works ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth

Honor Is Not Fitting for a Fool

26 As snow in summer (A)and rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So (B)a curse without cause shall not alight.

(C)A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
(D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 [a]The great God who formed everything
Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
11 (E)As a dog returns to his own vomit,
(F)So a fool repeats his folly.
12 (G)Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the [b]streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.
15 The (H)lazy man buries his hand in the [c]bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, (I)“I was only joking!”

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no [d]talebearer, strife ceases.
21 (J)As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a [e]talebearer are like [f]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the [g]inmost body.

23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart
Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
And lays up deceit within himself;
25 (K)When [h]he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

27 (L)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works (M)ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:10 Heb. difficult in v. 10; ancient and modern translators differ greatly
  2. Proverbs 26:13 Or plazas, squares
  3. Proverbs 26:15 LXX, Syr. bosom; Tg., Vg. armpit
  4. Proverbs 26:20 gossip or slanderer, lit. whisperer
  5. Proverbs 26:22 gossip or slanderer
  6. Proverbs 26:22 A Jewish tradition wounds
  7. Proverbs 26:22 Lit. rooms of the belly
  8. Proverbs 26:25 Lit. his voice is gracious

26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

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

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

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.

10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

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

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

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

17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

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

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

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

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

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

26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

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

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