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.