CHAPTER 26
1Like snow in the summer, like rain in the harvest,
so honor is unfit for a fool.
2As a bird for wandering, as a swallow for flight,
so a groundless curse won’t come to pass.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4Do not answer a dolt by his folly
lest you, too, be like him.
5Answer the dolt by his folly,
lest he seem wise in his own eyes.
6He cuts off his own legs, drinking outrage,
he who send words by a fool.
7Thighs hang slack on the lame
and a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like one binding a stone in a sling,
so he who gives a fool honor.
9A thorn comes up in the hand of a drunk
and a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10A master brings all things about,
but who hires a fool hires vagabonds.
11Like a dog going back to his vomit
a dolt repeats his folly.
12Have you seen a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for the fool than for him.
13The sluggard says, “A young lion is on the road,
a lion is out in the squares.”
14A door turns on its hinge,
and a sluggard on his bed.
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
he cannot bring it back up to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven who answer with good sense.
17Like one who seizes the ears of a passing dog
is he who mixes in with a quarrel not his.
18Like a lunatic shooting deadly firebrands
19is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “Why, I was joking.”
20When there is no wood, a fire goes out,
and without a grumbler, strife falls silent.
21Coal for embers and wood for fire
and a belligerent man to stir up quarrel.
22A grumbler’s words are like pounding
and they go down to the belly’s chambers.
23Silver with dross glazed on pottery
are ardent lips and an evil heart.
24By his lips a foe dissembles
and within he lays out deceit.
25Though he makes his speech fair, do not trust him,
for seven loathsome things are in his heart.
26Who covers hatred in deception,
his evil will be exposed to all.
27Who digs a pit will fall in it,
and who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28A lying tongue hates those it crushes,