Proverbs 26
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1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, 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 fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison.6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.7Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.8Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.10Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.11Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!"13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”
14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.14As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.23Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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Proverbs 25
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