Proverbs 26
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New Living TranslationNew American Standard Bible 1995
1Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight.
3Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
4Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.
5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.5Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.
6Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!6He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.7Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.8Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.9Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.10Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.11Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.
12There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”13The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!"
14As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.14As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.
15Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
17Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.17Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.
18Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon18Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death,
19is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”19So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?"
20Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
21A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.22The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.23Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.24He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart.
25They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.26Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.27He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org
Proverbs 25
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