Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 26

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

²As a bird wanders, as a swallow flies about, So a curse without cause does not come.

³A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.

⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also become like him.

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he become wise in his own eyes.

⁶He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off feet, drinks damage.

⁷The legs of the lame hang limp So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

⁸Like one binding a stone in a sling, So is he who gives esteem to a fool.

⁹A thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰An archer who wounds anyone, Is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.

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

¹²Have you seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more expectancy for a fool than for him.

¹³The lazy one says, “There is a lion in the way! A fierce lion is in the streets!”

¹⁴As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy one turn on his bed.

¹⁵The lazy one buries his hand in a dish; It tires him to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁶The lazy one is wiser in his own eyes Than seven rendering advice.

¹⁷A passer-by meddling in a strife not his own Is like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears.

¹⁸Like a madman who throws sparks, arrows, and death,

¹⁹So is a man who deceived his neighbour, And says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰For lack of wood, the fire goes out. And without a slanderer, strife ceases.

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

²²The words of a slanderer are as dainty morsels, Which go down into the inner parts of the heart.

²³Burning lips with an evil heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

²⁴He who hates, pretends with his lips, And lays up deceit within him;

²⁵Though he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.

²⁶Hatred is covered by deceit. His evil is disclosed in the assembly.

²⁷Whoever digs a pit falls into it, And whoever rolls a stone, it turns back on him.

²⁸A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works ruin.