Proverbs 26

¹As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,

So honor is not seemly for a fool.

²As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,

So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,

And a rod for the back of fools.

⁴Answer not a fool according to his folly,

Lest thou also be like unto him.

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

⁶He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool

Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.

⁷The legs of the lame hang loose;

So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

⁸As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,

So is he that giveth honor to a fool.

⁹As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰As an archer that woundeth all,

So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

¹¹As a dog that returneth to his vomit,

So is a fool that repeateth his folly.

¹²Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?

There is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way;

A lion is in the streets.

¹⁴As the door turneth upon its hinges,

So doth the sluggard upon his bed.

¹⁵The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;

It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit

Than seven men that can render a reason.

¹⁷He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,

Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

¹⁸As a madman who casteth firebrands,

Arrows, and death,

¹⁹So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,

And saith, Am not I in sport?

²⁰For lack of wood the fire goeth out;

And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

²¹As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to inflame strife.

²²The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts.

²³Fervent lips and a wicked heart

Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

²⁴He that hateth dissembleth with his lips;

But he layeth up deceit within him:

²⁵When he speaketh fair, believe him not;

For there are seven abominations in his heart:

²⁶Though his hatred cover itself with guile,

His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.

²⁷Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;

And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

²⁸A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded;

And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.