箴言 26
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
当以愚昧懒惰人为戒
26 夏天落雪，收割时下雨，都不合宜；
照样，愚昧人获得尊荣，也不合宜。
2 麻雀怎样飞来飞去，燕子怎样翻飞；
照样，无故的咒诅也不会临到人。
3 鞭子是为了打马，嚼环是为了勒驴；
刑杖是为了打愚昧人的背。
4 不要照着愚昧人的愚妄回答他，
免得你像他一样。
5 要照着愚昧人的愚妄回答他，
免得他自以为有智慧。
6 藉愚昧人的手传递信息的，
是自断己足，自寻烦恼。
7 箴言在愚昧人口中，
就像瘸子的腿，虚悬无用。
8 把荣耀给愚昧人的，
就像人把石子系在投石器上。
9 箴言在愚昧人口中，
就像荆棘在醉汉手里。
10 雇用愚昧人和过路人的，
就像胡乱射伤众人的弓箭手。
11 愚昧人一再重复他的愚妄，
正像狗转过来，吃自己所吐的。
12 你见过自以为有智慧的人吗？
愚昧人比他更有指望。
13 懒惰人说：“路上有狮子，
广场上也有狮子。”
14 懒惰人在床上翻动，
就像门绕着门铰转动一样。
15 懒惰人把手放在盘子里，
连拿食物送回口边也觉得劳累。
16 懒惰人看自己，
比七个善于应对的人更有智慧。
提防毁谤及诡诈的人
17 过路的人被激怒，去干涉与自己无关的争执，
就像人揪住狗的耳朵。
18-19 人欺骗了邻舍，
却说：“我不过是开玩笑罢了。”
他就像疯狂的人，
投掷火把、利箭和杀人的武器。
20 没有柴，火就熄灭；
没有搬弄是非的人，纷争就平息。
21 好争竞的人，煽动争端，
就像余烬上加炭，火上加柴一样。
22 搬弄是非的人的言语如同美食；
深入人的脏腑。
23 嘴唇火热，心却奸恶，
就像包上银渣的瓦器。
24 憎恶人的用话语掩饰自己，
心里却存着诡诈。
25 他的话语虽然动听，你不可信他，
因为他心里有七样可厌恶的事。
26 他的怨恨虽然以诡诈掩饰，
但他的邪恶必在大会中显露出来。
27 挖掘陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；
辊石头的，石头必辊回自己身上。
28 虚谎的舌头憎恶被它伤害的人；
谄媚的口造成败坏。
Proverbs 26
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 26[a]
1 Like snow in summer, like rain in harvest,
honor for a fool is out of place.[b]
2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight,
a curse uncalled-for never lands.[c]
3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass,
and the rod for the back of fools.(A)
4 [d]Do not answer fools according to their folly,
lest you too become like them.
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
lest they become wise in their own eyes.
6 Those who send messages by a fool
cut off their feet; they drink down violence.
7 [e]A proverb in the mouth of a fool
hangs limp, like crippled legs.
8 Giving honor to a fool
is like entangling a stone in the sling.
9 A thorn stuck in the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 An archer wounding all who pass by
is anyone who hires a drunken fool.
11 As dogs return to their vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.(B)
12 You see those who are wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for fools than for them.
13 [f]The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the street,
a lion in the middle of the square!”(C)
14 The door turns on its hinges
and sluggards, on their beds.
15 The sluggard buries a hand in the dish,
too weary to lift it to the mouth.(D)
16 In their own eyes sluggards are wiser
than seven who answer with good judgment.
17 Whoever meddles in the quarrel of another
is one who grabs a passing dog by the ears.
18 Like a crazed archer
scattering firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 Such are those who deceive their neighbor,
and then say, “I was only joking.”
20 [g]Without wood the fire dies out;
without a talebearer strife subsides.
21 Charcoal for coals, wood for fire—
such are the quarrelsome, enkindling strife.(E)
22 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels:
they sink into one’s inmost being.[h](F)
23 Like a glazed finish on earthenware
are smooth lips and a wicked heart.[i]
24 With their lips enemies pretend,
but inwardly they maintain deceit;
25 When they speak graciously, do not trust them,(G)
for seven abominations[j] are in their hearts.
26 Hatred can be concealed by pretense,
but malice will be revealed in the assembly.[k]
27 Whoever digs a pit falls into it;
and a stone comes back upon the one who rolls it.(H)
28 The lying tongue is its owner’s enemy,
and the flattering mouth works ruin.
Footnotes
- 26:1–28 Concrete images describe the vices of fools (vv. 1–12), of sluggards (vv. 13–16), of meddlers (vv. 17–19), of talebearers (vv. 20–22), and of flatterers (vv. 23–28).
- 26:1 There is no fit (“out of place”) between weather and agricultural season.
- 26:2 The point is the similarity of actions: a hovering bird that never lands, a groundless curse that never “lands.” It hangs in the air posing no threat to anyone.
- 26:4–5 There is no contradiction between these two proverbs. In their answers, the wise must protect their own interests against fools. Or perhaps the juxtaposition of the two proverbs suggests that no single proverb can resolve every problem in life.
- 26:7–9 Fools either abuse or are unable to use whatever knowledge they have. A thorn: a proverb is “words spoken at the proper time” (25:11). Fools have no sense of the right time; their statements are like thorns that fasten on clothing randomly.
- 26:13–16 Each verse mentions the sluggard, whom Proverbs regards with derision. The criticism is not against low energy but failure to act and take responsibility. Proverbs’ ideal is the active person who uses heart, lips, hands, feet to keep to the good path. The verses are examples of the sardonic humor of the book.
- 26:20–22 The three proverbs have a common theme—the destructive power of slanderous words. Certain words are repeated: wood and fire, talebearer.
- 26:22 Malicious gossip is compared to delicious food that is swallowed and lodges in the deepest recesses of one’s body. Negative comments are seldom forgotten. Prv 18:8 is a duplicate.
- 26:23 Heart = what is within, and lips (words) = what is expressed, are compared to an earthenware jar covered with glaze.
- 26:25 Seven abominations: many evil intentions.
- 26:26 Hate may be concealed for a time, but it will eventually issue in a deed and become known in the public assembly. There is a play on words: the consonants of the word “hatred” (ś’n) are literally concealed in the word “pretense” (mś’n).
Proverbs 26
New King James Version
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.
2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So (B)a curse without cause shall not alight.
3 (C)A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
5 (D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 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
- Proverbs 26:10 Heb. difficult in v. 10; ancient and modern translators differ greatly
- Proverbs 26:13 Or plazas, squares
- Proverbs 26:15 LXX, Syr. bosom; Tg., Vg. armpit
- Proverbs 26:20 gossip or slanderer, lit. whisperer
- Proverbs 26:22 gossip or slanderer
- Proverbs 26:22 A Jewish tradition wounds
- Proverbs 26:22 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 26:25 Lit. his voice is gracious
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
