Proverbs 26

26:1

Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.

26:2

Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

26:3

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

26:4

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

26:5

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.

26:6

Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

26:7

Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

26:8

Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

26:9

Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

26:10

Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.

26:11

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

26:12

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

26:13

The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”

26:14

As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.

26:15

The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

26:16

The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

26:17

Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

26:18

Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,

26:19

so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

26:20

Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

26:21

Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

26:22

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

26:23

Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

26:24

A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.

26:25

When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.

26:26

Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

26:27

He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

26:28

A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.