Proverbs 26

¹ As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.

² As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.

³ A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.

⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.

⁶ He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.

⁷ As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.

⁸ As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

⁹ As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.

¹¹ As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.

¹² Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³ The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.

¹⁴ As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

¹⁵ The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.

¹⁷ As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man's quarrel.

¹⁸ As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death :

¹⁹ So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.

²⁰ When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.

²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.

²² The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.

²³ Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.

²⁴ An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.

²⁵ When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.

²⁶ He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.

²⁷ He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.

²⁸ A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.