26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
26:2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
26:3 A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
26:6 Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
26:7 Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
26:9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
26:10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.
26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
26:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
26:14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
26:15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
26:17 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
26:18 Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows
26:19 is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
26:20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
26:21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
26:22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
26:23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
26:24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.
26:25 Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26:26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
26:27 If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.
26:28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
26:1 Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, / So honor is not fitting for a fool.
26:2 Like the sparrow in its fluttering, like the swallow in its flying, / So a curse without cause does not alight.
26:3 A whip for the horse! A bridle for the donkey! / And a rod for the back of fools!
26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, / Lest you also be like him.
26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, / Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
26:6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool / Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
26:7 Like the legs of the lame which hang down, / So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
26:8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling, / So is he who gives honor to a fool.
26:9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, / So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
26:10 Like an archer who wounds everyone, / So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit / Is a fool who repeats his folly.
26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? / There is more hope for a fool than for him.
26:13 The sluggard says, There is a roaring lion on the way; / A lion is in the streets!
26:14 As the door turns upon its hinges, / So does the sluggard upon his bed.
26:15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; / He gets weary by bringing it to his mouth again.
26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes / Than seven men who can answer discreetly.
26:17 He who passes by and meddles with strife that does not belong to him, / Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
26:18 Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
26:19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor, / And says, Was I not joking?
26:20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, / And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
26:21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, / So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
26:22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, / And they go down into the innermost parts of one s being.
26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart / Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
26:24 He who hates disguises it with his lips, / But he lays up deceit within him;
26:25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him; / For there are seven abominations in his heart;
26:26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile, / His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
26:27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, / And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
26:28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, / And a flattering mouth works ruin.