26 As the snow in the Summer, and as the rain in the Harvest are not meet, so is honor unseemly for a fool.

As the sparrow by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeless, shall not come.

Unto the horse belongeth a whip, to the ass a bridle, and a rod to the fool’s back.

Answer not a fool [a]according to his foolishness, lest thou also be like him.

Answer a fool [b]according to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own [c]conceit.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool, is as he that cutteth off [d]the feet, [e]and drinketh iniquity.

As they that lift up the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fool’s mouth.

As the closing up of a precious stone in an heap of stones, so is he that giveth glory to a fool.

As a thorn standing [f]up in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 [g]The Excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth the transgressors.

11 (A)As a dog turneth again to his own vomit, so a fool turneth to his foolishness.

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

13 The slothful man saith, [i]A lion is in the way: a lion is in the streets.

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

15 (B)The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom, and it grieveth him to put 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 medleth with the strife that belongeth not unto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As he that feigneth himself mad, casteth firebrands, arrows, and mortal things,

19 So dealeth the deceitful man with [j]his friend, and saith, Am not I in sport?

20 Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.

21 As the coal maketh burning coals, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.

22 (C)The words of a talebearer are as flatterings, and they go down into the bowels of the belly.

23 As silver dross overlaid upon a potsherd, so are burning lips, and [k]an evil heart.

24 He that hateth, will counterfeit with his lips, but in his heart he layeth up deceit.

25 Though he speak favorably, believe him not: for there are [l]seven abominations in his heart.

26 Hatred may be covered by deceit: but the malice thereof shall be discovered in the [m]congregation.

27 (D)He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return unto him.

28 A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:4 Consent not unto him in his doings.
  2. Proverbs 26:5 Reprove him as the matter requireth.
  3. Proverbs 26:5 Hebrew, eyes.
  4. Proverbs 26:6 To wit, of the messenger whom he sendeth.
  5. Proverbs 26:6 That is, receiveth damage thereby.
  6. Proverbs 26:9 Whereby he both hurteth himself and others.
  7. Proverbs 26:10 Meaning, God.
  8. Proverbs 26:12 For the fool will rather be counseled than he: also the fool sinneth of ignorance, and the other of malice.
  9. Proverbs 26:13 Read Prov. 22:13.
  10. Proverbs 26:19 Which dissembleth himself to be that he is not.
  11. Proverbs 26:23 They will soon break out and utter themselves.
  12. Proverbs 26:25 Meaning, many: he useth the number certain, for the uncertain.
  13. Proverbs 26:26 In the assembly of the godly.

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