Proverbs Chapter 26

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1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back.

[The next two versed explain a great paradox: If you respond to a fools remark, you look like a fool, but if you don't, the fool is even more convinced that he or she is a genius. I would add that a fools friends, who also tend to be fools, are also convinced of the foolish argument.]
4 Do not answer a fool when he is speaking foolishly, lest you also be like him.
5 Answer a fool when he is speaking foolishly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than of him.
13 The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turns upon his hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 He who passes by, and exposes strife belonging not to him, is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceives his neighbor, and says, Am not I in sport?
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Burning lips and a wicked mind are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates acknowledges with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
25 When he speaks in a favorable way, don't believe him, for there are seven disgusting things in his mind.
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall therein: and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those who are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

King James Version (KJV)

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.
14 [As] the door turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 As a mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.
26 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Young's Literal Translation (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!

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