Proverbs 26
Legacy Standard Bible
26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So glory is not (B)fitting for a fool.
2 Like a (C)sparrow in its [a]flitting, like a swallow in flying,
So a (D)curse without cause does not come to pass.
3 A (E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (F)rod for the back of fools.
4 (G)Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you yourself also be like him.
5 (H)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be (I)wise in his own eyes.
6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends words by the hand of a fool.
7 Like the legs which hang limp on the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like [b]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives glory to a fool.
9 Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 [c]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who (K)repeats [d]his folly.
12 Do you see a man (L)wise in his own eyes?
(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The (N)sluggard says, “There is a fierce lion in the road!
A lion is [e]among the streets!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the (O)sluggard on his bed.
15 The (P)sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is too weary to return it to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is (Q)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can respond with a discreet answer.
17 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and becomes passionate about (R)strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a madman who shoots
(S)Firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man who (T)deceives his neighbor,
And says, “(U)Am I not joking?”
20 With no wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no (V)whisperer, (W)strife quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a (X)contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The (Y)words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the stomach.
23 Like an earthen (Z)vessel overlaid with silver (AA)dross
Are fiery lips and an evil heart.
24 He who (AB)hates disguises it with his lips,
But he sets up (AC)deceit within himself.
25 When he (AD)makes his voice gracious, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred (AE)covers itself with guile,
His evil will be (AF)revealed in the assembly.
27 He who (AG)digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will turn back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates [f]those it crushes,
And a (AH)flattering mouth works ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:2 Lit wandering
- Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
- Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But he who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
- Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his
- Proverbs 26:13 Lit within
- Proverbs 26:28 Lit its crushed ones
Proverbs 26
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.(A)
2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
an undeserved curse goes nowhere.(B)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.(C)
4 Do not answer fools according to their folly,
lest you be a fool yourself.(D)
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
lest they be wise in their own eyes.(E)
6 It is like cutting off one’s foot and drinking down violence,
to send a message by a fool.
7 The legs of a lame person hang limp;
so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
8 It is like binding a stone in a sling
to give honor to a fool.(G)
9 Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(H)
10 Like an archer who wounds everybody
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit
is a fool who reverts to his folly.(I)
12 Do you see people wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for fools than for them.(J)
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the road!
There is a lion in the streets!”(K)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a lazy person in bed.
15 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish
and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.(L)
16 The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem
than seven who can answer discreetly.
17 Like someone who takes a passing dog by the ears
is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.(M)
18 Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,(N)
19 so is one who deceives a neighbor
and says, “I am only joking!”(O)
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.(P)
21 As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(Q)
22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.(R)
23 Like the glaze[b] covering an earthen vessel
are smooth[c] lips with an evil heart.
24 An enemy dissembles in speaking
while harboring deceit within;(S)
25 when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it,
for there are seven abominations concealed within;(T)
26 though hatred is covered with guile,
the enemy’s wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.(U)
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.(V)
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.(W)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.