Proverbs 26-27

Amplified Bible

26 Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] ^[a]fool.^(A)
2 
Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,
So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving].^(B)
3 
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].
⁴ 
Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly,
Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.
⁵ 
Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly,
Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him].^(C)
6 
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence].^(D)
7 
Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].
⁸ 
Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw],
So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a 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 fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].
¹⁰ 
Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by.
¹¹ 
Like a dog that returns to his vomit
Is a fool who repeats his foolishness.
¹² 
Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.^(E)
13 
The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work I will be killed]!”^(F)
14 
As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].
¹⁵ 
The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity];
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.^(G)
16 
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven [sensible] men who can give a discreet answer.
¹⁷ 
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears [and is likely to be bitten]
Is he who, passing by, stops to meddle with a dispute that is none of his business.
¹⁸ 
Like a madman who throws
Firebrands, arrows, and death,
¹⁹ 
So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend)
And then says, “Was I not joking?”^(H)
20 
For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down.
²¹ 
Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.^(I)
22 
The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].^(J)
23 
Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value]
Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart.
²⁴ 
He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
But he stores up deceit in his heart.
²⁵ 
When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him,
For seven abominations are in his heart.
²⁶ 
Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit,
His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly.
²⁷ 
Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him.^(K)
28 
A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.

27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring.^(L)
2 
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
³ 
Stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But a fool’s [unreasonable] wrath is heavier and more burdensome than both of them.
⁴ 
Wrath is cruel and anger is an overwhelming flood,
But who is able to endure and stand before [the sin of] jealousy?
⁵ 
Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction]
Than love that is hidden.^(M)
6 
Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern],
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].
⁷ 
He who is satisfied loathes honey,
But to the hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.
⁸ 
Like a bird that wanders from her nest [with its comfort and safety],
So is a man who wanders from his home.
⁹ 
Oil and perfume make the heart glad;
So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.
¹⁰ 
Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
¹¹ 
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may reply to him who reproaches (reprimands, criticizes) me.^(N)
12 
A prudent man sees evil and hides himself and avoids it,
But the naive [who are easily misled] continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].^(O)
13 
[The judge tells the creditor,] “Take the garment of one who is surety (guarantees a loan) for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge when he is surety for an immoral woman [for it is unlikely the debt will be repaid].”^(P)
14 
He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be counted as a curse to him [for it will either be annoying or his purpose will be suspect].
¹⁵ 
A constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious (quarrelsome) woman are alike;^(Q)
16 
Whoever attempts to restrain her [criticism] might as well try to stop the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.
¹⁷ 
As iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].
¹⁸ 
He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,
And he who faithfully protects and cares for his master will be honored.^(R)
19 
As in water face reflects face,
So the heart of man reflects man.
²⁰ 
Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the underworld) are never satisfied;
Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.^(S)
21 
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold [to separate the impurities of the metal],
And each is tested by the praise given to him [and his response to it, whether humble or proud].
²² 
Even though you pound a [hardened, arrogant] fool [who rejects wisdom] in a mortar with a pestle like grain,
Yet his foolishness will not leave him.