Proverbs 26
|
Proverbs 26
|
| As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool. | Like snow in summer and rain when the grain is being cut, so honour is not natural for the foolish. |
| As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not. | As the sparrow in her wandering and the swallow in her flight, so the curse does not come without a cause. |
| A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools. | A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish. |
| Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. | Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him. |
| Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit. | Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself. |
| He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage. | He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is cutting off his feet and drinking in damage. |
| The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools. | The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish. |
| As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool. | Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord. |
| [As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools. | Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man overcome by drink, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man. |
| [As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by. | Like an archer wounding all who go by, is a foolish man overcome by drink. |
| As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly. | Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again. |
| Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. | Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him. |
| The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets. | The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. |
| [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed. | A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work on his bed. |
| The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth. | The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin: lifting it again to his mouth is a weariness to him. |
| The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason. | The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense. |
| He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears. | He who gets mixed up in a fight which is not his business, is like one who takes a dog by the ears while it is going by. |
| As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death, | As one who is off his head sends about flaming sticks and arrows of death, |
| So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport? | So is the man who gets the better of his neighbour by deceit, and says, Am I not doing so in sport? |
| For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth. | Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended. |
| [As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife. | Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started. |
| The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts. | The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach. |
| Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. | Smooth lips and an evil heart are like a vessel of earth plated with silver waste. |
| He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him: | With his lips the hater makes things seem what they are not, but deceit is stored up inside him; |
| When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart: | When he says fair words, have no belief in him; for in his heart are seven evils: |
| Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly. | Though his hate is covered with deceit, his sin will be seen openly before the meeting of the people. |
| Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him. | He who makes a hole in the earth will himself go falling into it: and on him by whom a stone is rolled the stone will come back again. |
| A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin. | A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling. |
