Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

3 A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

6 Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence
is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

7 Like a lame man's legs that hang limp
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.

9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool 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 roaming the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns 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 discreetly.

17 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18 Like a madman shooting
firebrands or deadly arrows

19 is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts.

23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware
are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
but in his heart he harbors deceit.

25 Though his speech is charming, do not believe him,
for seven abominations fill his heart.

26 His malice may be concealed by deception,
but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;
if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.

PROVERBS 26

Don't Be a Fool

1 Expecting snow in summer
and rain in the dry season
makes more sense
than honoring a fool.

2 A curse you don't deserve
will take wings and fly away
like a sparrow or a swallow.

3 Horses and donkeys
must be beaten and bridled—
and so must fools.

4 Don't make a fool of yourself
by answering a fool.

5 But if you answer any fools,
show how foolish they are,
so they won't feel smart.

6 Sending a message by a fool
is like chopping off your foot
just to spite yourself.

7 A fool with words of wisdom
is like an athlete
with legs that can't move.t

8 Are you going to honor a fool?
Why not shoot a slingshot
with the rock tied tight?

9 A thornbush waved around
in the hand of a drunkard
is no worse than a proverb
in the mouth of a fool.

10 It's no smarter to shoot arrows
at every passerby
than it is to hire a bunch
of worthless nobodies.t

11  t Dogs return to eat their vomit,
just as fools repeat
their foolishness.

12 There is more hope for a fool
than for someone who says,
“I'm really smart!”

13 Don't be lazy and keep saying,
“There's a lion outside!”

14 A door turns on its hinges,
but a lazy person
just turns over in bed.

15 Some of us are so lazy
that we won't lift a hand
to feed ourselves.

16 A lazy person says,
“I am smarter
than everyone else.”

17 It's better to take hold
of a mad dog by the ears
than to take part
in someone else's argument.

18 It's no crazier to shoot
sharp and flaming arrows

19 than to cheat someone and say,
“I was only fooling!”

20 Where there is no fuel
a fire goes out;
where there is no gossip
arguments come to an end.

21 Troublemakers start trouble,
just as sparks and fuel
start a fire.

22 There is nothing so delicious
as the taste of gossip!
It melts in your mouth.

23 Hiding hateful thoughts
behind smootht talk
is like coating a clay pot
with a cheap glaze.

24 The pleasant talk
of an enemy
hides more evil plans

25 than can be counted—
so don't believe a word!

26 Everyone will see through
those evil plans.

27  t If you dig a pit,
you will fall in;
if you start a stone rolling,
it will roll back on you.

28 Watch out for anyone
who tells lies and flatters—
they are out to get you.