Proverbs 26
Modern English Version
26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by flitting, as the swallow by flying,
so the curse without cause will not alight.
3 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 unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off the feet and drinks violence.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal;
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The great God who formed all things
rewards the fool and rewards the transgressor.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool returns to his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The slothful man says, “There is a lion in the way!
A lion is in the streets!”
14 As the door turns upon his hinges,
so does the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful buries his hand in his bowl;
it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
than seven men who can answer reasonably.
17 He who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him
is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casts
firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor,
and says, “I was only joking.”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 As charcoal is 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 go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart
are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates dissembles with his lips,
and lays up deceit within him;
25 when 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 shown before the whole congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those who are afflicted by it,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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