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Proverbs 26
American Standard Version
Proverbs 26
American Standard Version
26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
So honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
So the curse that is causeless [a]alighteth not.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in [b]his own conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose;
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,
So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 [c]As an archer that woundeth all,
So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
So is a fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Seest thou a man wise in [d]his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way;
A lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges,
So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;
It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in [e]his own conceit
Than seven men that can [f]render a reason.
17 [g]He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,
Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands,
Arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,
And saith, Am not I in sport?
20 For lack of wood the fire goeth out;
And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart
Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips;
But he layeth up deceit within him:
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not;
For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile,
His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;
And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath [h]wounded;
And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:2 Hebrew cometh not.
- Proverbs 26:5 Hebrew his own eyes.
- Proverbs 26:10 Or, A master worker formeth all things; But he that hireth the fool is as one that hireth them that pass by. The Hebrew is obscure.
- Proverbs 26:12 Hebrew his own eyes.
- Proverbs 26:16 Hebrew his own eyes.
- Proverbs 26:16 Or, answer discreetly
- Proverbs 26:17 Or, He that vexeth himself . . . Is like one that taketh a passing dog etc.
- Proverbs 26:28 Hebrew crushed.
Proverbs 26
New International Version
Proverbs 26
New International Version
26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
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.(I)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
9 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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth
American Standard Version (ASV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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