Proverbs 26 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Proverbs 26 (WEBP)
[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.
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Proverbs 26 (KJVS)
[1] As snow H7950 in summer H7019, and as rain H4306 in harvest H7105, so honour H3519 is not seemly H5000 for a fool H3684.
[2] As the bird H6833 by wandering H5110 (8800), as the swallow H1866 by flying H5774 (8800), so the curse H7045 causeless H2600 shall not come H935 (8799).
[3] A whip H7752 for the horse H5483, a bridle H4964 for the ass H2543, and a rod H7626 for the fool’s H3684 back H1460.
[4] Answer H6030 (8799) not a fool H3684 according to his folly H200, lest thou also be like H7737 (8799) unto him.
[5] Answer H6030 (8798) a fool H3684 according to his folly H200, lest he be wise H2450 in his own conceit H5869.
[6] He that sendeth H7971 (8802) a message H1697 by the hand H3027 of a fool H3684 cutteth off H7096 (8764) the feet H7272, [and] drinketh H8354 (8802) damage H2555.
[7] The legs H7785 of the lame H6455 are not equal H1809 (8804): so [is] a parable H4912 in the mouth H6310 of fools H3684.
[8] As he that bindeth H6872 (8675) H6887 (8800) a stone H68 in a sling H4773, so [is] he that giveth H5414 (8802) honour H3519 to a fool H3684.
[9] [As] a thorn H2336 goeth up H5927 (8804) into the hand H3027 of a drunkard H7910, so [is] a parable H4912 in the mouth H6310 of fools H3684.
[10] The great H7227 [God] that formed H2342 (8789) all [things] both rewardeth H7936 (8802) the fool H3684, and rewardeth H7936 (8802) transgressors H5674 (8802).
[11] As a dog H3611 returneth H7725 (8804) to his vomit H6892, [so] a fool H3684 returneth H8138 (8802) to his folly H200.
[12] Seest H7200 (8804) thou a man H376 wise H2450 in his own conceit H5869? [there is] more hope H8615 of a fool H3684 than of him.
[13] The slothful H6102 [man] saith H559 (8804), [There is] a lion H7826 in the way H1870; a lion H738 [is] in the streets H7339.
[14] [As] the door H1817 turneth H5437 (8735) upon his hinges H6735, so [doth] the slothful H6102 upon his bed H4296.
[15] The slothful H6102 hideth H2934 (8804) his hand H3027 in [his] bosom H6747; it grieveth H3811 (8738) him to bring it again H7725 (8687) to his mouth H6310.
[16] The sluggard H6102 [is] wiser H2450 in his own conceit H5869 than seven men H7651 that can render H7725 (8688) a reason H2940.
[17] He that passeth by H5674 (8802), [and] meddleth H5674 (8693) with strife H7379 [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh H2388 (8688) a dog H3611 by the ears H241.
[18] As a mad H3856 (8700) [man] who casteth H3384 (8802) firebrands H2131, arrows H2671, and death H4194,
[19] So [is] the man H376 [that] deceiveth H7411 (8765) his neighbour H7453, and saith H559 (8804), Am not I in sport H7832 (8764)?
[20] Where no H657 wood H6086 is, [there] the fire H784 goeth out H3518 (8799): so where [there is] no talebearer H5372, the strife H4066 ceaseth H8367 (8799).
[21] [As] coals H6352 [are] to burning coals H1513, and wood H6086 to fire H784; so [is] a contentious H4079 (8675) H4066 man H376 to kindle H2787 (8771) strife H7379.
[22] The words H1697 of a talebearer H5372 [are] as wounds H3859 (8693), and they go down H3381 (8804) into the innermost parts H2315 of the belly H990.
[23] Burning H1814 (8801) lips H8193 and a wicked H7451 heart H3820 [are like] a potsherd H2789 covered H6823 (8794) with silver H3701 dross H5509.
[24] He that hateth H8130 (8802) dissembleth H5234 (8735) with his lips H8193, and layeth up H7896 (8799) deceit H4820 within H7130 him;
[25] When he speaketh H6963 fair H2603 (8762), believe H539 (8686) him not: for [there are] seven H7651 abominations H8441 in his heart H3820.
[26] [Whose] hatred H8135 is covered H3680 (8691) by deceit H4860, his wickedness H7451 shall be shewed H1540 (8735) before the [whole] congregation H6951.
[27] Whoso diggeth H3738 (8802) a pit H7845 shall fall H5307 (8799) therein: and he that rolleth H1556 (8802) a stone H68, it will return H7725 (8799) upon him.
[28] A lying H8267 tongue H3956 hateth H8130 (8799) [those that are] afflicted H1790 by it; and a flattering H2509 mouth H6310 worketh H6213 (8799) ruin H4072.
Young’s Literal Translation
Proverbs 26 (YLT)
[1] As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour is not comely for a fool.
[2] As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
[3] A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
[4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him-even thou.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
[6] He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
[7] Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
[8] As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So is he who is giving honour to a fool.
[9] A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
[10] Great is the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
[11] As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
[12] Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
[13] The slothful hath said, ‘A lion is in the way, A lion is in the broad places.’
[14] The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
[15] The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
[16] Wiser is the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven men returning a reason.
[17] Laying hold on the ears of a dog, Is a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
[18] As one pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
[19] So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, ‘Am not I playing?’
[20] Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
[21] Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
[22] The words of a tale-bearer are as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart.
[23] Silver of dross spread over potsherd, Are burning lips and an evil heart.
[24] By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
[25] When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations are in his heart.
[26] Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
[27] Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
[28] A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!