Imprimir Opciones de la página Listen to Proverbs 26

26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(I)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
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.

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth

26 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,(A)
honor is inappropriate for a fool.(B)
Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,(C)
an undeserved curse goes nowhere.(D)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(E)
and a rod for the backs of fools.(F)
Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness(G)
or you’ll be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his foolishness(H)
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.(I)
The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand(J)
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.(K)
A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.
Giving honor to a fool
is like binding a stone in a sling.[a]
A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by[b] the hand of a drunkard.
10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by
is like an archer who wounds everyone.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness.(L)
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?(M)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.(N)

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—
a lion in the public square!”(O)
14 A door turns on its hinges,
and a slacker, on his bed.(P)
15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he is too weary to bring it to his mouth.(Q)
16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser(R)
than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his
is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,(S)
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down.(T)
21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.(U)
22 A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.[c](V)

23 Smooth[d] lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel.(W)
24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech
and harbors deceit within.
25 When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.(X)
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever rolls a stone—
it will come back on him.(Y)
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 26:8 A stone bound in a sling would not release and could harm the person using the sling. A modern equivalent is jamming a cork in a gun barrel.
  2. Proverbs 26:9 Lit thorn that goes up into
  3. Proverbs 26:22 Lit to the chambers of the belly
  4. Proverbs 26:23 LXX; MT reads Burning

Don't Be a Fool

26 Expecting snow in summer
    and rain in the dry season
makes more sense
    than honoring a fool.
A curse you don't deserve
will take wings and fly away
    like a sparrow or a swallow.
Horses and donkeys
must be beaten and bridled—
    and so must fools.
Don't make a fool of yourself
    by answering a fool.
But if you answer any fools,
show how foolish they are,
    so they won't feel smart.

Sending a message by a fool
is like chopping off your foot
    just to spite yourself.
A fool with words of wisdom
is like an athlete
    with legs that can't move.[a]
Are you going to honor a fool?
Why not shoot a slingshot
    with the rock tied tight?
A thornbush waved around
    in the hand of a drunkard
is no worse than a proverb
    in the mouth of a fool.

10 It's no smarter to shoot arrows
    at every passerby
than it is to hire a bunch
    of worthless nobodies.[b]
11 (A) Dogs return to eat their vomit,
just as fools repeat
    their foolishness.
12 There is more hope for a fool
than for someone who says,
    “I'm really smart!”

13 Don't be lazy and keep saying,
    “There's a lion outside!”
14 A door turns on its hinges,
but a lazy person
    just turns over in bed.
15 Some of us are so lazy
that we won't lift a hand
    to feed ourselves.
16 A lazy person says,
“I am smarter
    than everyone else.”

17 It's better to take hold
    of a mad dog by the ears
than to take part
    in someone else's argument.
18 It's no crazier to shoot
    sharp and flaming arrows
19 than to cheat someone and say,
    “I was only fooling!”

20 Where there is no fuel
    a fire goes out;
where there is no gossip
    arguments come to an end.
21 Troublemakers start trouble,
just as sparks and fuel
    start a fire.
22 There is nothing so delicious
as the taste of gossip!
    It melts in your mouth.

23 Hiding hateful thoughts
    behind smooth[c] talk
is like coating a clay pot
    with a cheap glaze.
24 The pleasant talk
    of an enemy
hides more evil plans
25 than can be counted—
    so don't believe a word!
26 Everyone will see through
    those evil plans.
27 (B) If you dig a pit,
    you will fall in;
if you start a stone rolling,
    it will roll back on you.
28 Watch out for anyone
who tells lies and flatters—
    they are out to get you.

Notas al pie

  1. 26.7 with … move: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  2. 26.10 nobodies: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.
  3. 26.23 smooth: One ancient translation; Hebrew “hateful.”

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.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So (B)a curse without cause shall not alight.

(C)A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
(D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
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.

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 26:10 Heb. difficult in v. 10; ancient and modern translators differ greatly
  2. Proverbs 26:13 Or plazas, squares
  3. Proverbs 26:15 LXX, Syr. bosom; Tg., Vg. armpit
  4. Proverbs 26:20 gossip or slanderer, lit. whisperer
  5. Proverbs 26:22 gossip or slanderer
  6. Proverbs 26:22 A Jewish tradition wounds
  7. Proverbs 26:22 Lit. rooms of the belly
  8. Proverbs 26:25 Lit. his voice is gracious

26 Praise for a fool is out of place, like snow in summer or rain at harvest time.

Curses cannot hurt you unless you deserve them. They are like birds that fly by and never light.

You have to whip a horse, you have to bridle a donkey, and you have to beat a fool.

If you answer a silly question, you are just as silly as the person who asked it.

Give a silly answer to a silly question, and the one who asked it will realize that he's not as smart as he thinks.

If you let a fool deliver a message, you might as well cut off your own feet; you are asking for trouble.

A fool can use a proverb about as well as crippled people can use their legs.

Praising someone who is stupid makes as much sense as tying a stone in a sling.

A fool quoting a wise saying reminds you of a drunk trying to pick a thorn out of his hand.

10 An employer who hires any fool that comes along is only hurting everybody concerned.[a]

11 (A)A fool doing some stupid thing a second time is like a dog going back to its vomit.

12 The most stupid fool is better off than those who think they are wise when they are not.

13 Why don't lazy people ever get out of the house? What are they afraid of Lions?

14 Lazy people turn over in bed. They get no farther than a door swinging on its hinges.

15 Some people are too lazy to put food in their own mouths.

16 A lazy person will think he is smarter than seven men who can give good reasons for their opinions.

17 Getting involved in an argument that is none of your business is like going down the street and grabbing a dog by the ears.

18-19 Someone who tricks someone else and then claims that he was only joking is like a crazy person playing with a deadly weapon.

20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, quarreling stops.

21 Charcoal keeps the embers glowing, wood keeps the fire burning, and troublemakers keep arguments alive.

22 Gossip is so tasty! How we love to swallow it!

23 Insincere[b] talk that hides what you are really thinking is like a fine glaze[c] on a cheap clay pot.

24 A hypocrite hides hate behind flattering words. 25 They may sound fine, but don't believe him, because his heart is filled to the brim with hate. 26 He may disguise his hatred, but everyone will see the evil things he does.

27 (B)People who set traps for others get caught themselves. People who start landslides get crushed.

28 You have to hate someone to want to hurt him with lies. Insincere talk brings nothing but ruin.

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 26:10 Verse 10 in Hebrew is unclear.
  2. Proverbs 26:23 One ancient translation Insincere; Hebrew Burning.
  3. Proverbs 26:23 Probable text fine glaze; Hebrew unrefined silver.