Proverbs 26 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. (1Sa 12:17; Pr 17:7; Pr 19:10; Pr 26:8)

1Sa 12:17Pr 17:7Pr 19:10Pr 26:8

2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. (Nu 23:8; De 23:5; 2Sa 16:12; Ps 84:3; Pr 27:8)

Nu 23:8De 23:52Sa 16:12Ps 84:3Pr 27:8

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. (Ps 32:9; Pr 19:29) 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. (2Sa 16:11; 2Ki 18:36; Lu 23:9) 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. (Pr 28:11; Mt 16:1; Mt 21:24; Ro 12:16)

Pr 28:11Mt 16:1Mt 21:24Ro 12:16

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. (Job 15:16; Pr 13:2) 7 Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. (Pr 26:1) 9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. (Pr 23:35) 10 Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.^[1] 11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. (Ex 8:15; 2Pe 2:22) 12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Pr 28:11; Pr 29:20; Ro 12:16) 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” (Pr 22:13) 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. 15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. (Pr 19:24) 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Job 5:19; Pr 6:16; Pr 26:12; Pr 26:25)

Job 5:19Pr 6:16Pr 26:12Pr 26:25

17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. 18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death (Isa 50:11) 19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” 20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. (Pr 16:28; Pr 22:10) 21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. (Pr 15:18) 22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. (Pr 18:8; Pr 26:20) 23 Like the glaze^[2] covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. (Pr 25:4; Mt 23:27; Lu 11:39) 24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; (Ps 28:3; Pr 26:16) 26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. (Ps 7:15; Pr 28:10) 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

New International Version

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honour is not fitting for a fool. 2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. 6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. 7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honour to a fool. 9 Like a thorn-bush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 10 Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. 11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. 12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. 13 A sluggard says, ‘There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!’ 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. 15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. 16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. 17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. 18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death 19 is one who deceives their neighbour and says, ‘I was only joking!’ 20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. 23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent^[1] lips with an evil heart. 24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbour deceit. 25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. 26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. 28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.