Proverbs 26
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1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.2Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.3A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.
6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.6Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.
7Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.7Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.8Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.10Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by.
11Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.11Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”13The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!"
14As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.14Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.15The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.16The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation than seven people who respond with good sense.
17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.17Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.
18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death18Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows,
19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”19so is a person who deceives his neighbor, and says, "Was I not only joking?"
20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.20Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.
21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.21Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.
22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.22The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person's innermost being.
23Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.23Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.
25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him.
26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.26Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.27The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone--it will come back on him.
28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.28A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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Proverbs 25
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