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
International Standard Version
On Fools
26 Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time,
so honor is inappropriate for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow
or a swallow in flight,
a curse without cause will not alight.
3 A whip is for the horses,
a bridle is for the donkey,
a rod is for the back of fools.
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness,
or you will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness,
or he will think himself to be wise.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own[a] feet and drinks violence.
7 Useless legs to the lame—
that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
8 Tying a stone to a sling—
that’s what giving honor to a fool is.
9 A thorn in the hand of a drunkard—
that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
10 An archer who shoots at anyone—
is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.
11 A dog that returns to its vomit
is like a fool who reverts to his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion?
There’s more hope for a fool than for him.
On Laziness
13 The lazy person claims, “There is a lion in the road!
There’s a lion in the streets!”
14 The door turns on its hinges—
as does the lazy person on his bed.
15 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish,
but he’s too tired to bring it to his mouth again.
16 The lazy person is wiser in his own opinion
than seven men who can give an appropriate response.
17 Picking up a dog by the ears—
that’s what someone is like who[b] meddles in another’s fight.
18 Like the maniac who shoots
fiery darts and deadly arrows—
19 that’s what someone is like who lies to his neighbor
and then says, “I was joking, wasn’t I?”
On Gossip and Backbiting
20 Without wood, the fire goes out.
Without a gossip, contention stops.
21 Charcoal is to hot coals
as wood is to fire;
so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels;
they sink down deep within.
23 A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver—
that’s what smooth[c] lips with a wicked heart are.
24 Someone who hates hides behind his words,
harboring deceit within himself.
25 Though he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven detestable things in his heart.
26 Though malice disguises itself with deception,
its evil will be exposed publicly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and the stone will come back
on whoever starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:6 The Heb. lacks his own
- Proverbs 26:17 Lit. who, as he is passing by,
- Proverbs 26:23 So LXX; MT reads burning
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