Proverbs 26

Similitudes, Instructions

1Like snow in summer and like 1rain in harvest, So honor is not 2fitting for a fool.2Like a 3sparrow in its 4flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a 5curse without cause does not 6alight.3A 7whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a 8rod for the back of fools.49Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.510Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be 11wise in his own eyes.6He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.7Like the legs which 12are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.8Like 13one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.9Like a thorn which 14falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.1015Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.11Like 16a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who 17repeats 18his folly.12Do you see a man 19wise in his own eyes? 20There is more hope for a fool than for him.13The 21sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is 22in the open square!”14As the door turns on its hinges, So does the 23sluggard on his bed.15The 24sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.16The sluggard is 25wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can 26give a discreet answer.17Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and 27meddles with 28strife not belonging to him.18Like a madman who throws 29Firebrands, arrows and death,19So is the man who 30deceives his neighbor, And says, “31Was I not joking?”20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no 32whisperer, 33contention quiets down.21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a 34contentious man to kindle strife.22The 35words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the 36innermost parts of the body.23Like an earthen 37vessel overlaid with silver 38dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.24He who 39hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up 40deceit in his 41heart.25When 42he 43speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.26Though his hatred 44covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be 45revealed before the assembly.27He who 46digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.28A lying tongue hates 47those it crushes, And a 48flattering mouth works ruin.