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Proverbs 26
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
Proverbs 26
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
26 Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a [self-confident] fool.(A)
2 Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying, so the causeless curse does not alight.(B)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a [straight, slender] rod for the backs of [self-confident] fools.
4 Answer not a [self-confident] fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
5 Answer a [self-confident] fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes and conceit.(C)
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a [a]fool cuts off the feet [of satisfactory delivery] and drinks the damage.(D)
7 Like the legs of a lame man which hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a [self-confident] fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man, so is a proverb in the mouth of a [self-confident] fool.
10 [But] like an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or chance passers-by.
11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes and conceit? There is more hope for a [self-confident] fool than for him.(E)
13 The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way! A lion is in the streets!(F)
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man [move not from his place] upon his bed.
15 The slothful and self-indulgent buries his hand in his bosom; it distresses and wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.(G)
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes and conceit than seven men who can render a reason and answer discreetly.
17 He who, passing by, stops to meddle with strife that is none of his business is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor and then says, Was I not joking?(H)
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
21 As coals are to hot embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man to inflame strife.(I)
22 The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport [to some, but to others are like deadly wounds]; and they go down into the innermost parts of the body [or of the victim’s nature].
23 Burning lips [uttering insincere words of love] and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel covered with the scum thrown off from molten silver [making it appear to be solid silver].
24 He who hates pretends with his lips, but stores up deceit within himself.
25 When he speaks kindly, do not trust him, for seven abominations are in his heart.
26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile, his wickedness shall be shown openly before the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] shall fall into it himself, and he who rolls a stone [up a height to do mischief], it will return upon him.(J)
28 A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:6 See footnote on Proverbs 14:3.
Proverbs 26
New Century Version
Proverbs 26
New Century Version
26 It shouldn’t snow in summer or rain at harvest.
Neither should a foolish person ever be honored.
2 Curses will not harm someone who is innocent;
they are like sparrows or swallows that fly around and never land.
3 Whips are for horses, and harnesses are for donkeys,
so paddles are good for fools.
4 Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or you will be just like them.
5 Answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or they will think they are really wise.
6 Sending a message by a foolish person
is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.
7 A wise saying spoken by a fool
is as useless as the legs of a crippled person.
8 Giving honor to a foolish person
is like tying a stone in a slingshot.
9 A wise saying spoken by a fool
is like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk.
10 Hiring a foolish person or anyone just passing by
is like an archer shooting at just anything.
11 A fool who repeats his foolishness
is like a dog that goes back to what it has thrown up.
12 There is more hope for a foolish person
than for those who think they are wise.
13 The lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the road!
There’s a lion in the streets!”
14 Like a door turning back and forth on its hinges,
the lazy person turns over and over in bed.
15 Lazy people may put their hands in the dish,
but they are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
16 The lazy person thinks he is wiser
than seven people who give sensible answers.
17 Interfering in someone else’s quarrel as you pass by
is like grabbing a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman shooting
deadly, burning arrows
19 is the one who tricks a neighbor
and then says, “I was just joking.”
20 Without wood, a fire will go out,
and without gossip, quarreling will stop.
21 Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going,
a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going.
22 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food;
people like to gobble them up.
23 Kind words from a wicked mind
are like a shiny coating on a clay pot.
24 Those who hate you may try to fool you with their words,
but in their minds they are planning evil.
25 People’s words may be kind, but don’t believe them,
because their minds are full of evil thoughts.
26 Lies can hide hate,
but the evil will be plain to everyone.
27 Whoever digs a pit for others will fall into it.
Whoever tries to roll a boulder down on others will be crushed by it.
28 Liars hate the people they hurt,
and false praise can ruin others.
Proverbs 26
Names of God Bible
Proverbs 26
Names of God Bible
All about Fools
26 Like snow in summertime and rain at harvest time,
so honor is not right for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow,
like a darting swallow,
so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip is for the horse,
a bridle is for the donkey,
and a rod is for the backs of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or you will be like him.
5 Answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or he will think he is wise.
6 Whoever uses a fool to send a message
cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.
7 Like a lame person’s limp legs,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn stuck in a drunk’s hand,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 Like many people who destroy everything,
so is one who hires fools or drifters.
11 As a dog goes back to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his stupidity.
12 Have you met a person who thinks he is wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 A lazy person says,
“There’s a ferocious lion out on the road!
There’s a lion loose in the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns on his bed.
15 A lazy person puts his fork in his food.
He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.
16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.
17 Like grabbing a dog by the ears,
so is a bystander who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel.
18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood a fire goes out,
and without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire,
so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.
22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,
and they go down into a person’s innermost being.
23 Like a clay pot covered with cheap silver,
so is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.
24 Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech,
but inside he holds on to deceit.
25 When he talks charmingly, do not trust him
because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.
26 His hatred is deceitfully hidden,
but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.
Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Proverbs 26
New International Version
Proverbs 26
New International Version
26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(I)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(K)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(L)
so fools repeat their folly.(M)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(N)
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(O)
13 A sluggard says,(P) “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”(Q)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.(R)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.(S)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18 Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(T)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(U)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.(V)
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(W)
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(X)
25 Though their speech is charming,(Y) do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.(Z)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(AA) will fall into it;(AB)
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(AC)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth(AD) works ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) 
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New Century Version (NCV) 
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Names of God Bible (NOG)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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