Proverbs 26
Tree of Life Version
Folly of Fools
26 Like snow in summer or rain at harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow,
so an undeserved curse does not land.
3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
else you also will be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
else he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence
is sending a message by a fool’s hand.
7 Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp,
so is a proverb in a fool’s mouth.
8 Like tying a stone into a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn bush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in a fool’s mouth.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly.[a]
12 Do you see one wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than him.
Folly of Slackers
13 A slacker says,
“There’s a lion on the road!
A lion is in the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges
so a slacker turns on his bed.
15 The slacker plunges his hand in the dish—
he is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A slacker is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer sensibly.
Folly of Lashon Ha-Ra
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears
is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows
19 so is one who deceives his friend, and says, “I was only joking.”
20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossip quarrels cease.
21 As coals are to embers and wood to fire,
so is a contentious person to kindling strife.
22 A gossip’s words are like tasty morsels—
they slide down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like silver glaze overlaying earthenware
are fervent[b] lips with an evil heart.
24 One who hates, disguises it with his lips,
but he stores up deceit within him.
25 When he speaks favorably, do not believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred may be concealed
by deceit, his evil will be exposed before the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall in it,
and whoever rolls a stone—it will come back upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those crushed by it,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:11 cf. 2 Pet. 2:22.
- Proverbs 26:23 Lit. burning.
Proverbios 26
La Biblia de las Américas
26 Como nieve en el verano y como lluvia en la siega(A),
así la honra no es apropiada para el necio(B).
2 Como el gorrión en su vagar y la golondrina en su vuelo(C)
así la maldición no viene sin causa(D).
3 El látigo es para el caballo, la brida para el asno(E),
y la vara para la espalda de los necios(F).
4 No respondas al necio de acuerdo con su necedad(G),
para que no seas tú también como él.
5 Responde al necio según su necedad(H),
para que no sea sabio ante sus propios ojos(I).
6 Se corta los pies y bebe violencia
el que envía recado por mano de necio.
7 Como las piernas que penden del lisiado,
así es el proverbio en boca de los necios.
8 Como el que ata[a] la piedra a la honda
así es el que da honor al necio.
9 Como espina que se clava[b] en la mano de un borracho,
tal es el proverbio en boca de los necios.
10 Como arquero que a todos hiere,
así es el que toma a sueldo al necio o a[c] los que pasan.
11 Como perro que vuelve a su vómito(J)
es el necio que repite su[d] necedad(K).
12 ¿Has visto a un hombre que se tiene por sabio[e](L)?
Más esperanza hay para el necio que para él(M).
13 El perezoso dice(N): Hay un león en el camino;
hay un león en medio de la plaza.
14 Como la puerta gira sobre sus goznes,
así da vueltas el perezoso en su cama(O).
15 El perezoso mete la mano en el plato(P),
pero se fatiga de llevársela a la boca.
16 El perezoso es más sabio ante sus propios ojos
que siete que den una respuesta discreta[f](Q).
17 Como el que toma un perro por las orejas,
así es el que pasa y se entremete[g] en contienda que no es suya(R).
18 Como el enloquecido que lanza
teas encendidas(S), flechas y muerte,
19 así es el hombre que engaña a su prójimo(T),
y dice: ¿Acaso no estaba yo bromeando(U)?
20 Por falta de leña se apaga el fuego,
y donde no hay chismoso(V), se calma la contienda(W).
21 Como carbón para las brasas y leña para el fuego,
así es el hombre rencilloso para encender contiendas(X).
22 Las palabras del chismoso son como bocados deliciosos,
y penetran hasta el fondo de las entrañas[h](Y).
23 Como vasija de barro revestida de escoria de plata(Z),
así son los labios ardientes y el corazón perverso.
24 El que odia, disimula con sus labios(AA),
mas en su corazón[i] acumula engaño(AB).
25 Cuando su voz sea agradable, no lo creas,
pues hay siete abominaciones en su corazón(AC).
26 Aunque su odio se cubra con engaño(AD),
su perversidad será descubierta en la asamblea(AE).
27 El que cava un hoyo caerá en él(AF),
y el que hace rodar una piedra, sobre él volverá.
28 La lengua mentirosa odia a los que oprime[j],
y la boca lisonjera causa ruina(AG).
Footnotes
- Proverbios 26:8 Lit., el atar de
- Proverbios 26:9 Lit., se levanta
- Proverbios 26:10 O, Un obrero hábil produce todo, pero el que toma a sueldo a un necio es como el que toma a sueldo a
- Proverbios 26:11 Lit., con su
- Proverbios 26:12 Lit., sabio en sus propios ojos
- Proverbios 26:16 Lit., vuelvan discretamente
- Proverbios 26:17 Lit., se enfurece
- Proverbios 26:22 Lit., las cavidades del vientre
- Proverbios 26:24 Lit., interior
- Proverbios 26:28 Lit., sus oprimidos
Proverbs 26
New King James Version
Honor Is Not Fitting for a Fool
26 As snow in summer (A)and rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So (B)a curse without cause shall not alight.
3 (C)A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
5 (D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 [a]The great God who formed everything
Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
11 (E)As a dog returns to his own vomit,
(F)So a fool repeats his folly.
12 (G)Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the [b]streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.
15 The (H)lazy man buries his hand in the [c]bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, (I)“I was only joking!”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no [d]talebearer, strife ceases.
21 (J)As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a [e]talebearer are like [f]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the [g]inmost body.
23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart
Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
And lays up deceit within himself;
25 (K)When [h]he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27 (L)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works (M)ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:10 Heb. difficult in v. 10; ancient and modern translators differ greatly
- Proverbs 26:13 Or plazas, squares
- Proverbs 26:15 LXX, Syr. bosom; Tg., Vg. armpit
- Proverbs 26:20 gossip or slanderer, lit. whisperer
- Proverbs 26:22 gossip or slanderer
- Proverbs 26:22 A Jewish tradition wounds
- Proverbs 26:22 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 26:25 Lit. his voice is gracious
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
