Proverbs 26:1-16

English Standard Version

26 Like snow in summer or ^(A)rain in harvest,
    so ^(B)honor is ^(C)not fitting for a fool.
² Like ^(D)a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
    ^(E)a curse that is causeless does not alight.
^3 (F)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and ^(G)a rod for the back of fools.
^4 (H)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
^5 (I)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be ^(J)wise in his own eyes.
⁶ Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and ^(K)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 ^(L)one who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Like ^(M)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds everyone
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.^[a]
11 Like ^(N)a dog that returns to his vomit
    is ^(O)a fool who repeats his folly.
¹² Do you see a man who is ^(P)wise in his own eyes?
    ^(Q)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
^13 (R)The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
    There is a lion in the streets!”
¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
    so does a sluggard on his bed.
^15 (S)The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
¹⁶ The sluggard is ^(T)wiser in his own eyes
    ^(U)than seven men who can answer sensibly.