Proverbs 26

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, || So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.

2As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, || So reviling without cause does not come.

3A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, || And a rod for the back of fools.

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, || Lest you are like to him—even you.

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

6He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, || Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

7The two legs of the lame have been weak, || And an allegory in the mouth of fools.

8As one who is binding a stone in a sling, || So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.

9A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, || And an allegory in the mouth of fools.

10The Former of all [is] great, || And He is rewarding a fool, || And is rewarding transgressors.

11As a dog has returned to its vomit, || A fool is repeating his folly.

12You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, || More hope of a fool than of him!

13The slothful has said, || “A lion [is] in the way, || A lion [is] in the broad places.”

14The door turns around on its hinge, || And the slothful on his bed.

15The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, || He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.

16Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, || Than seven [men] returning a reason.

17Laying hold on the ears of a dog, || [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.

18As [one] pretending to be feeble, || Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

19So has a man deceived his neighbor, || And has said, “Am I not playing?”

20Fire is going out without wood, || And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,

21Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, || And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

22The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, || And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

23Silver of dross spread over potsherd, || [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.

24A hater pretends by his lips, || And he places deceit in his heart,

25When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, || For seven abominations [are] in his heart.

26Hatred is covered by deceit, || Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.

27Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, || And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.

28A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, || And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!