Proverbs 26

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Like snow in summer, or rain in harvest, honor for a fool is out of place.	1 Snow no more befits the summer, nor rain the harvest-time, than honours befit a fool.
2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight, a curse uncalled-for arrives nowhere.	2 As the sparrow escapes, and the swal ow flies away, so the undeserved curse will never hit its mark.
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 donkey, and for the backs of fools, a stick.
4 Answer not the fool according to his folly, lest you too become like him.	4 Do not answer a fool in the terms of his fol y for fear you grow like him yourself.
5 Answer the fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.	5 Answer a fool in the terms of his fol y for fear he imagine himself wise.
6 He cuts off his feet, he drinks down violence, who sends messages by a fool.	6 He wounds himself, he takes violence for his drink, who sends a message by a fool.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool hangs limp, like crippled legs.	7 Unreliable as the legs of the lame, so is a proverb 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 wel tie the stone to the sling as pay 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 A thorn branch in a drunkard's hand, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer wounding all who pass by is he who hires a drunken fool.	10 An archer wounding everyone, such is he who hires the passing fool and drunkard.
11 As the dog returns to his vomit, so the fool repeats his folly.	11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool reverts to his fol y.
12 You see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.	12 You see someone who thinks himself wise? More to be hoped for from a fool than from him!
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the street, a lion in the middle of the square!"	13 'A wild beast on the road!' says the idler, 'a lion in the streets!'
14 The door turns on its hinges, the sluggard, on his bed!	14 The door turns on its hinges, the idler on his bed.
15 The sluggard loses his hand in the dish; he is too weary to lift it to his mouth.	15 Into the dish the idler dips his hand, but is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard imagines himself wiser than seven men who answer with good sense.	16 The idler thinks himself wiser than seven people who answer with discretion.
17 Like the man who seizes a passing dog by the ears is he who meddles in a quarrel not his own.	17 He takes a stray dog by the ears, who meddles in someone else's quarrel.
18 Like a crazed archer scattering firebrands and deadly arrows	18 Like a madman hurling firebrands, arrows and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and then says, "I was only joking."	19 so is anyone who lies to a companion and then says, 'Aren't I amusing?'
20 For lack of wood, the fire dies out; and when there is no talebearer, strife subsides.	20 No wood, and the fire goes out; no slanderer, and quarrel ing dies down.
21 What a bellows is to live coals, what wood is to fire, such is a contentious man in enkindling strife.	21 Charcoal for live embers, wood for fire, and the quarrelsome for kindling strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being.	22 The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the bel y.
23 Like a glazed finish on earthenware are smooth lips with a wicked heart.	23 Base silver-plate on top of clay: such are fervent lips and a wicked heart.
24 With his lips an enemy pretends, but in his inmost being he maintains deceit;	24 Whoever hates may hide it in speech, but deep within lies treachery;
25 When he speaks graciously, trust him not, for seven abominations are in his heart.	25 do not trust such a person's pretty speeches, since in the heart lurk seven abominations.
26 A man may conceal hatred under dissimulation, but his malice will be revealed in the assembly.	26 Hatred may disguise itself with guile, to reveal its wickedness later in the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit falls into it; and a stone comes back upon him who rolls it.	27 Whoever digs a pit fal s into it, the stone comes back on him that rol s it.
28 The lying tongue is its owner's enemy, and the flattering mouth works ruin.	28 The lying tongue hates its victims, the wheedling mouth causes ruin.