Proverbs - Chapter 26

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour `is' not comely for a fool. 2As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come. 3A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools. 4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. 6He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool. 7Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools. 8As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So `is' he who is giving honour to a fool. 9A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools. 10Great `is' the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors. 11As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly. 12Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him! 13The slothful hath said, `A lion `is' in the way, A lion `is' in the broad places.' 14The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed. 15The slothful hath 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 not his own. 18As `one' pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death, 19So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?' 20Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth, 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. 24By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit, 25When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations `are' in his heart. 26Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly. 27Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth. 28A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!