Proverbs 26
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.