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)
Proverbs 26
Common English Bible
26 Like snow in the summer or rain at harvest,
so honor isn’t appropriate for a fool.
2 Like a darting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
so an undeserved curse never arrives.
3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Don’t answer fools according to their folly,
or you will become like them yourself.
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
or they will deem themselves wise.
6 Sending messages with a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking down violence.
7 As legs dangle from a disabled person,
so does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling,
so is giving respect to a fool.
9 Like a thorny bush in the hand of a drunk,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds someone randomly,
so is one who hires a fool or a passerby.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats foolish mistakes.
12 Do you see people who consider themselves wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13 A lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the path!
A lion in the plazas!”
14 As a door turns on its hinge,
so do lazy people in their beds.
15 Lazy people bury their hand into the bowl,
too tired to return it to their mouth.
16 Lazy people think they are wiser
than seven people who answer sensibly.
17 Like yanking the ears of a dog,
so is one who passes by and gets involved in another person’s fight.
18 Like a crazy person shooting deadly flaming arrows
19 are those who deceive their neighbor and say, “Hey, I was only joking!”
20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossips, conflict calms down.
21 Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire,
quarrelsome people kindle strife.
22 The words of gossips are like choice snacks;
they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Smooth[a] lips and an evil heart
are like silver coating on clay.
24 Hateful people mislead with their lips,
keeping their deception within.
25 Though they speak graciously, don’t believe them,
for seven horrible things are in their heart.
26 They may cover their hatred with trickery,
but their evil will be revealed in public.
27 Those who dig a pit will fall in it;
those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes;
a flattering mouth causes destruction.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:23 LXX; Heb uncertain
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.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible