Proverbs - Chapter 26

¹ As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

² Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.

³ 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 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 The great [God] who formed everything Gives the fool [his] hire and the transgressor [his] wages.

¹¹ As a dog returns to his own vomit, [So] a fool repeats his folly.

¹² 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 streets!"

¹⁴ [As] a door turns on its hinges, So [does] the lazy [man] on his bed.

¹⁵ The lazy [man] buries his hand in the 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 was only joking!"

²⁰ Where [there is] no wood, the fire goes out; And where [there is] no talebearer, strife ceases.

²¹ [As] charcoal [is] to burning coals, and wood to fire, So [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.

²² The words of a talebearer [are] like tasty trifles, And they go down into the 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 When 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 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 ruin.