Proverbs 26:16-26

English Standard Version

¹⁶ The sluggard is ^(A)wiser in his own eyes
    ^(B)than seven men who can answer sensibly.
¹⁷ Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
    is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
¹⁸ Like a madman who throws ^(C)firebrands, arrows, and death
¹⁹ is the man who deceives his neighbor
    and says, “I am only joking!”
²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out,
    and where there is no ^(D)whisperer, ^(E)quarreling ceases.
²¹ As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
    so is ^(F)a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
^22 (G)The words of ^(H)a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.
^23 (I)Like the ^(J)glaze^[a] covering an earthen vessel
    are fervent lips with an evil heart.
²⁴ Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
^25 (K)when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are ^(L)seven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.