Proverbs 26
21st Century King James Version
26 As snow in summer and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, so a curse without cause shall not alight.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he think himself wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh violence.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn pierceth into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The great God who 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 for a fool than for 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 an answer.
17 He that passeth by and meddleth in 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 neighbor and saith, “Am I not in jest?”
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 shown 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.
Proverbs 26
American Standard Version
26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
So honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
So the curse that is causeless [a]alighteth not.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in [b]his own conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose;
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,
So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 [c]As an archer that woundeth all,
So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
So is a fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Seest thou a man wise in [d]his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way;
A lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges,
So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;
It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in [e]his own conceit
Than seven men that can [f]render a reason.
17 [g]He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,
Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands,
Arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,
And saith, Am not I in sport?
20 For lack of wood the fire goeth out;
And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart
Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips;
But he layeth up deceit within him:
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not;
For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile,
His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;
And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath [h]wounded;
And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:2 Hebrew cometh not.
- Proverbs 26:5 Hebrew his own eyes.
- Proverbs 26:10 Or, A master worker formeth all things; But he that hireth the fool is as one that hireth them that pass by. The Hebrew is obscure.
- Proverbs 26:12 Hebrew his own eyes.
- Proverbs 26:16 Hebrew his own eyes.
- Proverbs 26:16 Or, answer discreetly
- Proverbs 26:17 Or, He that vexeth himself . . . Is like one that taketh a passing dog etc.
- Proverbs 26:28 Hebrew crushed.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)