Proverbs, 26

1. Snow no more befits the summer, nor rain the harvest-time, than honours befit a fool.

1. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2. As the sparrow escapes, and the swallow flies away, so the undeserved curse will never hit its mark.

2. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.

3. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and for the backs of fools, a stick.

3. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

4. Do not answer a fool in the terms of his folly for fear you grow like him yourself.

4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

5. Answer a fool in the terms of his folly for fear he imagine himself wise.

5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6. He wounds himself, he takes violence for his drink, who sends a message by a fool.

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

7. Unreliable as the legs of the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

7. Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8. As well tie the stone to the sling as pay honour to a fool.

8. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.

9. A thorn branch in a drunkard's hand, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

10. An archer wounding everyone, such is he who hires the passing fool and drunkard.

10. Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

11. As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool reverts to his folly.

11. Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly.

12. You see someone who thinks himself wise? More to be hoped for from a fool than from him!

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

13. 'A wild beast on the road!' says the idler, 'a lion in the streets!'

13. The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"

14. The door turns on its hinges, the idler on his bed.

14. As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

15. Into the dish the idler dips his hand, but is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.

15. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16. The idler thinks himself wiser than seven people who answer with discretion.

16. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer discreetly.

17. He takes a stray dog by the ears, who meddles in someone else's quarrel.

17. He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

18. Like a madman hurling firebrands, arrows and death,

18. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

19. so is anyone who lies to a companion and then says, 'Aren't I amusing?'

19. is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"

20. No wood, and the fire goes out; no slanderer, and quarrelling dies down.

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

21. Charcoal for live embers, wood for fire, and the quarrelsome for kindling strife.

21. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22. The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the belly.

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

23. Base silver-plate on top of clay: such are fervent lips and a wicked heart.

23. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.

24. Whoever hates may hide it in speech, but deep within lies treachery;

24. He who hates, dissembles with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;

25. do not trust such a person's pretty speeches, since in the heart lurk seven abominations.

25. when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;

26. Hatred may disguise itself with guile, to reveal its wickedness later in the assembly.

26. though his hatred be covered with guile, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27. Whoever digs a pit falls into it, the stone comes back on him that rolls it.

27. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling.

28. The lying tongue hates its victims, the wheedling mouth causes ruin.

28. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.