Proverbs 26 – read and compare multiple versions
Proverbs 26
[1] Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
[2] Like a fluttering sparrow,
like a darting swallow,
so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
[3] A whip is for the horse,
a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools!
[4] Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you also be like him.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
[6] One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
[7] Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
[8] As one who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
[9] Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
[10] As an archer who wounds all,
so is he who hires a fool
or he who hires those who pass by.
[11] As a dog that returns to his vomit,
so is a fool who repeats his folly.
[12] Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
[13] The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion roams the streets!”
[14] As the door turns on its hinges,
so does the sluggard on his bed.
[15] The sluggard buries his hand in the dish.
He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
[16] The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer with discretion.
[17] Like one who grabs a dog’s ears
is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
[18] Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
[19] is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
[20] For lack of wood a fire goes out.
Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
[21] As coals are to hot embers,
and wood to fire,
so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
[22] The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
they go down into the innermost parts.
[23] Like silver dross on an earthen vessel
are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
[24] A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
but he harbors evil in his heart.
[25] When his speech is charming, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
[26] His malice may be concealed by deception,
but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
[27] Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.
Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
[28] A lying tongue hates those it hurts;
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
[2] Like a fluttering sparrow,
like a darting swallow,
so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
[3] A whip is for the horse,
a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools!
[4] Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you also be like him.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
[6] One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
[7] Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
[8] As one who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
[9] Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
[10] As an archer who wounds all,
so is he who hires a fool
or he who hires those who pass by.
[11] As a dog that returns to his vomit,
so is a fool who repeats his folly.
[12] Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
[13] The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion roams the streets!”
[14] As the door turns on its hinges,
so does the sluggard on his bed.
[15] The sluggard buries his hand in the dish.
He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
[16] The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer with discretion.
[17] Like one who grabs a dog’s ears
is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
[18] Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
[19] is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
[20] For lack of wood a fire goes out.
Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
[21] As coals are to hot embers,
and wood to fire,
so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
[22] The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
they go down into the innermost parts.
[23] Like silver dross on an earthen vessel
are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
[24] A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
but he harbors evil in his heart.
[25] When his speech is charming, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
[26] His malice may be concealed by deception,
but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
[27] Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.
Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
[28] A lying tongue hates those it hurts;
and a flattering mouth works ruin.