Proverbios 26

¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool. ² As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, alighteth not. ³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools. ⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, his own conceit. ⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool his own feet, and drinketh in damage. ⁷ The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools. ⁸ As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool. ⁹ As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰ __a__FOOTNOTE__a__ Proverbs 26:10 Or, A master worker formeth all things; But he that hireth the fool is as one that hireth them that pass by. The Hebrew is obscure. __b__FOOTNOTE__b__ As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by. ¹¹ As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that repeateth his folly. ¹² Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. ¹³ The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets. ¹⁴ As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed. ¹⁵ The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit __a__FOOTNOTE__a__ Proverbs 26:16 Or, answer discreetly __b__FOOTNOTE__b__ render a reason. ¹⁷ __a__FOOTNOTE__a__ Proverbs 26:17 Or, He that vexeth himself . . . Is like one that taketh a passing dog etc. __b__FOOTNOTE__b__ He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, like one that taketh a dog by the ears. ¹⁸ As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death, ¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport? ²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth. ²¹ As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife. ²² The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts. ²³ Fervent lips and a wicked heart like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. ²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him: ²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart: ²⁶ Though his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly. ²⁷ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.