Proverbs 26

Similitudes and 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 come to rest.3A 6whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a 7rod for the back of fools.48Do not answer a fool 9according to his foolishness, Or you will also be like him.510Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, So that he will not be 11wise in his own eyes.6One who sends a message by the hand of a fool Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.7Like 12useless legs to one who cannot walk, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.8Like 13one who binds a stone in a sling, So is one who gives honor to a fool.9Like a thorn that 14sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.1015Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.11Like 16a dog that returns to its vomit, So is a fool who 17repeats 18his foolishness.12Do you see a person 19wise in his own eyes? 20There is more hope for a fool than for him.1321A 22lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road! A lion is 23in the public square!”14As the door turns on its hinges, So does a 24lazy one on his bed.15A 25lazy one buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.16A lazy one is 26wiser in his own eyes Than seven people who can 27give a discreet answer.17Like one who takes a dog by the ears, So is one who passes by and 28meddles with 29strife not belonging to him.18Like a maniac who shoots 30Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,19So is a person who 31deceives his neighbor, And says, “32Was I not joking?”20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no 33gossiper, 34quarreling quiets down.21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a 35contentious person to kindle strife.22The 36words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the 37innermost parts of the body.23Like an earthenware 38vessel overlaid with silver 3940impurities Are burning lips and a wicked heart.24One who 41hates disguises it with his lips, But he harbors 42deceit in his 43heart.25When 44he 45speaks graciously, do not believe him, Because there are seven abominations in his heart.26Though his hatred 46covers itself with deception, His wickedness will be 47revealed in the assembly.27One who 48digs a pit will fall into it, And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.28A lying tongue hates 49those it crushes, And a 50flattering mouth works ruin.