Proverbs 26

¹Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] fool. [Is 32:6] ²Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying, So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving]. [Num 23:8] ³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn]. ⁴Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly, Otherwise you, even you, will be like him. ⁵Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly, Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him]. [Matt 16:1-4; 21:24-27] ⁶He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence]. [Prov 13:17] ⁷Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom]. ⁸Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw], So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool. ⁹Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom]. ¹⁰Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by. ¹¹Like a dog that returns to his vomit Is a fool who repeats his foolishness. ¹²Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him. [Prov 29:20; Luke 18:11; Rom 12:16; Rev 3:17] ¹³The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work I will be killed]!” [Prov 22:13] ¹⁴As the door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it]. ¹⁵The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity]; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. [Prov 19:24] ¹⁶The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes Than seven [sensible] men who can give a discreet answer. ¹⁷Like one who grabs a dog by the ears [and is likely to be bitten] Is he who, passing by, stops to meddle with a dispute that is none of his business. ¹⁸Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows, and death, ¹⁹So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend) And then says, “Was I not joking?” [Eph 5:4] ²⁰For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down. ²¹Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. [Prov 15:18; 29:22] ²²The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]; They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon]. [Prov 18:8] ²³Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value] Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart. ²⁴He who hates, disguises it with his lips, But he stores up deceit in his heart. ²⁵When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his heart. ²⁶Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit, His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly. ²⁷Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him. [Ps 7:15, 16; 9:15; 10:2; 57:6; Prov 28:10; Eccl 10:8] ²⁸A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.