Proverbs 26

New International Version

26 Like snow in summer or rain^(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.^(B)
²Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.^(C)
³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,^(D)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!^(E)
⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.^(F)
⁵Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.^(G)
⁶Sending a message by the hands of a fool^(H)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
⁷Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^(I)
⁸Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.^(J)
⁹Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^(K)
¹⁰Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
¹¹As a dog returns to its vomit,^(L)
    so fools repeat their folly.^(M)
¹²Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?^(N)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.^(O)

¹³A sluggard says,^(P) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”^(Q)
¹⁴As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.^(R)
¹⁵A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.^(S)
¹⁶A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

¹⁷Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

¹⁸Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
¹⁹is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.^(T)
²¹As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.^(U)
²²The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.^(V)

²³Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent^[a] lips with an evil heart.
²⁴Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,^(W)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.^(X)
²⁵Though their speech is charming,^(Y) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.^(Z)
²⁶Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
²⁷Whoever digs a pit^(AA) will fall into it;^(AB)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.^(AC)
²⁸A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth^(AD) works ruin.

Footnotes

Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth

Psalm 119:161-176

New International Version

ש Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹Rulers persecute me^(A) without cause,
    but my heart trembles^(B) at your word.
¹⁶²I rejoice^(C) in your promise
    like one who finds great spoil.^(D)
¹⁶³I hate and detest^(E) falsehood
    but I love your law.^(F)
¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous laws.^(G)
¹⁶⁵Great peace^(H) have those who love your law,
    and nothing can make them stumble.^(I)
¹⁶⁶I wait for your salvation,^(J) Lord,
    and I follow your commands.
¹⁶⁷I obey your statutes,
    for I love them^(K) greatly.
¹⁶⁸I obey your precepts^(L) and your statutes,^(M)
    for all my ways are known^(N) to you.

ת Taw

¹⁶⁹May my cry come^(O) before you, Lord;
    give me understanding^(P) according to your word.^(Q)
¹⁷⁰May my supplication come^(R) before you;
    deliver me^(S) according to your promise.^(T)
¹⁷¹May my lips overflow with praise,^(U)
    for you teach me^(V) your decrees.
¹⁷²May my tongue sing^(W) of your word,
    for all your commands are righteous.^(X)
¹⁷³May your hand be ready to help^(Y) me,
    for I have chosen^(Z) your precepts.
¹⁷⁴I long for your salvation,^(AA) Lord,
    and your law gives me delight.^(AB)
¹⁷⁵Let me live^(AC) that I may praise you,
    and may your laws sustain me.
¹⁷⁶I have strayed like a lost sheep.^(AD)
    Seek your servant,
    for I have not forgotten^(AE) your commands.

Read full chapter

Psalm 120-122

New International Version

Psalm 120

A song of ascents.

¹I call on the Lord^(A) in my distress,^(B)
    and he answers me.
²Save me, Lord,
    from lying lips^(C)
    and from deceitful tongues.^(D)

³What will he do to you,
    and what more besides,
    you deceitful tongue?
⁴He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,^(E)
    with burning coals of the broom bush.

⁵Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
    that I live among the tents of Kedar!^(F)
⁶Too long have I lived
    among those who hate peace.
⁷I am for peace;
    but when I speak, they are for war.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
²My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven^(G) and earth.^(H)

³He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴indeed, he who watches^(I) over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The Lord watches over^(J) you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶the sun^(K) will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷The Lord will keep you from all harm^(L)—
he will watch over your life;
⁸the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.^(M)

Psalm 122

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
²Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.

³Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
⁴That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.
⁵There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

⁶Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love^(N) you be secure.
⁷May there be peace^(O) within your walls
    and security within your citadels.^(P)”
⁸For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.^(Q)