Proverbs 26

Similitudes and Instructions

¹Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,

So honor is not fitting for a fool.

²Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,[#26:2 Lit wandering]

So a curse without cause does not come to rest.

³A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

And a rod for the back of fools.

⁴Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness,[#26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously]

Or you will also be like him.

⁵Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,

So that he will not be wise in his own eyes.

⁶One who sends a message by the hand of a fool

Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.

⁷Like useless legs to one who cannot walk,[#26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed]

So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

⁸Like one who binds a stone in a sling,[#26:8 Lit the binding of]

So is one who gives honor to a fool.

⁹Like a thorn that sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,[#26:9 Lit goes up]

So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

¹⁰Like an archer who wounds everyone,[#26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by]

So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.

¹¹Like a dog that returns to its vomit,

So is a fool who repeats his foolishness.

¹²Do you see a person wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³A lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road![#26:13 Lit an idle, and so throughout the ch]

A lion is in the public square!”

¹⁴As the door turns on its hinges,

So does a lazy one on his bed.

¹⁵A lazy one buries his hand in the dish;

He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

¹⁶A lazy one is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven people who can give a discreet answer.

¹⁷Like one who takes a dog by the ears,

So is one who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.

¹⁸Like a maniac who shoots

Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,

¹⁹So is a person who deceives his neighbor,

And says, “Was I not joking?”

²⁰For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no gossiper, quarreling quiets down.

²¹Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a contentious person to kindle strife.

²²The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

²³Like an earthenware vessel overlaid with silver impurities[#26:23 Lit dross]

Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

²⁴One who hates disguises it with his lips,

But he harbors deceit in his heart.

²⁵When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,[#26:25 Lit his voice is gracious]

Because there are seven abominations in his heart.

²⁶Though his hatred covers itself with deception,

His wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.

²⁷One who digs a pit will fall into it,

And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

²⁸A lying tongue hates those it crushes,[#26:28 Lit its crushed ones]

And a flattering mouth works ruin.