Proverbs 26:4-14
New Living Translation
4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.
5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.
6 Trusting a fool to convey a message
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
8 Honoring a fool
is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
is like an archer who shoots at random.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness.
12 There is more hope for fools
than for people who think they are wise.
13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!
Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”
14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns over in bed.
Proverbs 26:4-14
New International Version
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.(A)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.(B)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool(C)
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.(D)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.(E)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
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,(G)
so fools repeat their folly.(H)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(I)
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(J)
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