Proverbs 26

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Like snow in summer, or rain in harvest, honor for a fool is out of place.	1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight, a curse uncalled-for arrives nowhere.	2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass, and the rod for the back of fools.	3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Answer not the fool according to his folly, lest you too become like him.	4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer the fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.	5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He cuts off his feet, he drinks down violence, who sends messages by a fool.	6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool hangs limp, like crippled legs.	7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who entangles the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.	8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Like a thorn stick brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.	9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer wounding all who pass by is he who hires a drunken fool.	10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 As the dog returns to his vomit, so the fool repeats his folly.	11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12 You see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.	12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the street, a lion in the middle of the square!"	13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 The door turns on its hinges, the sluggard, on his bed!	14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The sluggard loses his hand in the dish; he is too weary to lift it to his mouth.	15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard imagines himself wiser than seven men who answer with good sense.	16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 Like the man who seizes a passing dog by the ears is he who meddles in a quarrel not his own.	17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Like a crazed archer scattering firebrands and deadly arrows	18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and then says, "I was only joking."	19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 For lack of wood, the fire dies out; and when there is no talebearer, strife subsides.	20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 What a bellows is to live coals, what wood is to fire, such is a contentious man in enkindling strife.	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 like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being.	22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Like a glazed finish on earthenware are smooth lips with a wicked heart.	23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 With his lips an enemy pretends, but in his inmost being he maintains deceit;	24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 When he speaks graciously, trust him not, for seven abominations are in his heart.	25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 A man may conceal hatred under dissimulation, but his malice will be revealed in the assembly.	26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27 He who digs a pit falls into it; and a stone comes back upon him who rolls it.	27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 The lying tongue is its owner's enemy, and the flattering mouth works ruin.	28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.