Proverbs 26 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 26
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Brenton Septuagint Translation
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English Standard Version
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1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not seemly for a fool. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so is a rod for a simple nation. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 As well take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools. Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools. Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought. Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame that is glory and grace. Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, There is a lion in the ways, and there are murderers in the streets. The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed. As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause. Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18 As those who need correction put forth fair words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown; Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest. is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases. For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite even to the inmost parts of the bowels. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit. Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though thine enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies. though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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