Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.⋮

2 As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.⋮

3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back of fools.⋮

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him.⋮

5 Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.⋮

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.⋮

7 Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.⋮

8 Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.⋮

9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.⋮

10 Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.⋮

11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.⋮

12 Do you see someone who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.⋮

13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”⋮

14 As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.⋮

15 The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.⋮

16 The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.⋮

17 Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.⋮

18 Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,⋮

19 is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”⋮

20 For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.⋮

21 As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.⋮

22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.⋮

23 Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.⋮

24 One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.⋮

25 He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.⋮

26 Though his hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.⋮

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.⋮

28 A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.⋮