Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,  * 26:1 1Sm 12:17

honor is inappropriate for a fool.  * 26:1 Pr 17:7; 19:10

2 Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,  * 26:2 Pr 27:8

an undeserved curse goes nowhere.  * 26:2 Nm 23:8; Dt 23:5; 2Sm 16:12

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,  * 26:3 Ps 32:9

and a rod for the backs of fools.  * 26:3 Pr 10:13; 19:29

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness  * 26:4 Pr 23:9; 29:9; Mt 7:6; Lk 23:9

or you’ll be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness  * 26:5 Mt 16:1–4; 21:24–27

or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.  * 26:5 Pr 26:12; 28:11; Rm 12:16

6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand  * 26:6 Pr 10:26; 25:13

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.  * 26:6 Pr 13:2

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like lame legs that hang limp.

8 Giving honor to a fool

is like binding a stone in a sling.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like a stick with thorns,

brandished by  * 26:9 Lit thorn that goes up into  the hand of a drunkard.

10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by

is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,

so also a fool repeats his foolishness.  * 26:11 2Pt 2:22

12 Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes?  * 26:12 Pr 3:7; 26:5; Rm 12:16

There is more hope for a fool than for him.  * 26:12 Pr 29:20

13 The slacker says, "There’s a lion in the road —

a lion in the public square! "  * 26:13 Pr 22:13

14 A door turns on its hinges,

and a slacker, on his bed.  * 26:14 Pr 6:9–10; 19:15

15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;

he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!  * 26:15 Pr 12:27; 19:24

16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser  * 26:16 Pr 26:5,12; 28:11

than seven who can answer sensibly.

17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his

is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,  * 26:18 Is 50:11

19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor

and says, "I was only joking! "

20 Without wood, fire goes out;

without a gossip, conflict dies down.  * 26:20 Pr 16:28; 22:10

21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.  * 26:21 Pr 15:18

22 A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being.  * 26:22 Lit to the chambers of the belly,* 26:22 Pr 18:8

23 Smooth  * 26:23 LXX; MT reads Burning lips with an evil heart

are like glaze on an earthen vessel.  * 26:23 Mt 23:27; Lk 11:39

24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech

and harbors deceit within.

25 When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,

for there are seven detestable things in his heart.  * 26:25 Ps 28:3

26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,

his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it,

and whoever rolls a stone —

it will come back on him.  * 26:27 Est 7:10; Jb 4:8; Pr 28:10; Dn 6:24; Mt 26:52

28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,

and a flattering mouth causes ruin.