Proverbs 26
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer,
so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 As birds and sparrows fly,
so a curse shall not come upon anyone without a cause.
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass,
so is a rod for a simple nation.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest thou become like him.
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by a foolish messenger
procureth for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 As well take away the motion of the legs,
as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 He that bindeth up a stone in a sling,
is like one that giveth glory to a fool.
9 Thorns [1]grow in the hand of a drunkard,
and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 [2]All the flesh of fools endureth much hardship;
for their fury is brought to nought.
11 [3]As when a dog goeth to his own vomit, and becometh abominable,
so is a fool who returneth in his wickedness to his own sin.
11a There is a shame that bringeth sin:
and there is a shame that is glory and grace.
12 I have seen a man who seemed [4]to himself to be wise;
but a fool had more hope than he.
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey saith,
There is a lion in the ways,
and there are murderers in the streets.
14 As a door turneth on the hinge,
so doth a sluggard on his bed.
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom,
will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 A sluggard seemeth to himself wiser
than one who [5]most satisfactorily bringeth back a message.
17 As he that layeth hold of a dog’s tail,
so is he that maketh himself the champion of another’s cause.
18 As those who need correction put forth fair words to men,
and he that first falleth in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends,
and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 With much wood fire increaseth;
but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceaseth.
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire;
and a railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft;
but they smite even to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd:
smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 A weeping enemy promiseth all things with his lips,
but in his heart he contriveth deceit.
25 Though thine enemy entreat thee with a loud voice, consent not:
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 He that hideth enmity frameth deceit: but being easily discerned,
exposeth his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 He that diggeth a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it:
and he that rolleth a stone, rolleth it upon himself.
28 A lying tongue hateth the truth;
and an unguarded mouth causeth tumults.