The In-Dept Study of the Bible
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 innermostparts.
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.