Proverbs 26
New American Standard Bible
Similitudes and Instructions
26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.
2 Like a (C)sparrow in its [a]flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a (D)curse without cause does not come to rest.
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 [b]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
5 (H)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (I)wise in his own eyes.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like [c]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8 Like [d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that [e]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who (K)repeats [g]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person (L)wise in his own eyes?
(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 [h]A (N)lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road!
A lion is [i]in the public square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does a (O)lazy one on his bed.
15 A (P)lazy one buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 A lazy one is (Q)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven people who can [j]give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears,
So is one who passes by and [k]meddles with (R)strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a maniac who shoots
(S)Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 So is a person who (T)deceives his neighbor,
And says, “(U)Was I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no (V)gossiper, (W)quarreling quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a (X)contentious person to kindle strife.
22 The (Y)words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [l]innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthenware (Z)vessel overlaid with silver [m](AA)impurities
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 One who (AB)hates disguises it with his lips,
But he harbors (AC)deceit in his [n]heart.
25 When [o]he (AD)speaks graciously, do not believe him,
Because there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred (AE)covers itself with deception,
His wickedness will be (AF)revealed in the assembly.
27 One who (AG)digs a pit will fall into it,
And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates [p]those it crushes,
And a (AH)flattering mouth works ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:2 Lit wandering
- Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously
- Proverbs 26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed
- Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
- Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
- Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
- Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his
- Proverbs 26:13 Lit an idle, and so throughout the ch
- Proverbs 26:13 Lit within
- Proverbs 26:16 Lit return discreetly
- Proverbs 26:17 Lit infuriates himself
- Proverbs 26:22 Lit chambers of the belly
- Proverbs 26:23 Lit dross
- Proverbs 26:24 Lit inward part
- Proverbs 26:25 Lit his voice is gracious
- Proverbs 26:28 Lit its crushed ones
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.
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