Proverbs 25:18-26:9

English Standard Version

¹⁸ A man who ^(A)bears false witness against his neighbor
    is like a war club, or ^(B)a sword, or a sharp arrow.
¹⁹ Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
    is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
²⁰ Whoever ^(C)sings songs to a heavy heart
    is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
    and like vinegar on soda.
^21 (D)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
    and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
²² for you will heap ^(E)burning coals on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.
²³ The north wind brings forth rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
^24 (F)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
²⁵ Like cold water to ^(G)a thirsty soul,
    so is ^(H)good news from a far country.
²⁶ Like ^(I)a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
²⁷ It is ^(J)not good to eat much honey,
    nor is it glorious to ^(K)seek one's own glory.^[a]
28 A man ^(L)without self-control
    is like ^(M)a city broken into and left without walls.
26 Like snow in summer or ^(N)rain in harvest,
    so ^(O)honor is ^(P)not fitting for a fool.
² Like ^(Q)a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
    ^(R)a curse that is causeless does not alight.
^3 (S)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and ^(T)a rod for the back of fools.
^4 (U)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
^5 (V)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be ^(W)wise in his own eyes.
⁶ Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and ^(X)drinks violence.
⁷ Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
⁸ Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is ^(Y)one who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Like ^(Z)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.