Similitudes, Instructions
26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.
2 Like a (C)sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a (D)curse without cause does not alight.
3 A (E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (F)rod for the back of fools.
4 (G)Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 (H)Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be (I)wise in his own eyes.
6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who (K)repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man (L)wise in his own eyes?
(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The (N)sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the (O)sluggard on his bed.
15 The (P)sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 The sluggard is (Q)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and meddles with (R)strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a madman who throws
(S)Firebrands, arrows and death,
19 So is the man who (T)deceives his neighbor,
And says, “(U)Was I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no (V)whisperer, (W)contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a (X)contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The (Y)words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthen (Z)vessel overlaid with silver (AA)dross
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He who (AB)hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up (AC)deceit in his heart.
25 When he (AD)speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred (AE)covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be (AF)revealed before the assembly.
27 He who (AG)digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a (AH)flattering mouth works ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:2
- Proverbs 26:2
- Proverbs 26:7
- Proverbs 26:8
- Proverbs 26:9
- Proverbs 26:10
- Proverbs 26:11
- Proverbs 26:13
- Proverbs 26:16
- Proverbs 26:17
- Proverbs 26:22
- Proverbs 26:24
- Proverbs 26:25
- Proverbs 26:28
Cross references
- Proverbs 26:1 : 1 Sam 12:17
- Proverbs 26:1 : Prov 17:7
- Proverbs 26:2 : Prov 27:8; Is 16:2
- Proverbs 26:2 : Num 23:8; Deut 23:5; 2 Sam 16:12
- Proverbs 26:3 : Ps 32:9
- Proverbs 26:3 : Prov 10:13; 19:29
- Proverbs 26:4 : Prov 23:9; 29:9; Is 36:21; Matt 7:6
- Proverbs 26:5 : Matt 16:1-4; 21:24-27
- Proverbs 26:5 : Prov 3:7; 28:11; Rom 12:16
- Proverbs 26:11 : 2 Pet 2:22
- Proverbs 26:11 : Ex 8:15
- Proverbs 26:12 : Prov 3:7; 26:5
- Proverbs 26:12 : Prov 29:20
- Proverbs 26:13 : Prov 22:13
- Proverbs 26:14 : Prov 6:9
- Proverbs 26:15 : Prov 19:24
- Proverbs 26:16 : Prov 27:11
- Proverbs 26:17 : Prov 3:30
- Proverbs 26:18 : Is 50:11
- Proverbs 26:19 : Prov 24:28
- Proverbs 26:19 : Eph 5:4
- Proverbs 26:20 : Prov 16:28
- Proverbs 26:20 : Prov 22:10
- Proverbs 26:21 : Prov 15:18; 29:22
- Proverbs 26:22 : Prov 18:8
- Proverbs 26:23 : Matt 23:27; Luke 11:39
- Proverbs 26:23 : Prov 25:4
- Proverbs 26:24 : Ps 41:6; Prov 10:18
- Proverbs 26:24 : Prov 12:20
- Proverbs 26:25 : Ps 28:3; Prov 26:23; Jer 9:8
- Proverbs 26:26 : Matt 23:28
- Proverbs 26:26 : Luke 8:17
- Proverbs 26:27 : Esth 7:10; Prov 28:10
- Proverbs 26:28 : Prov 29:5
