Proverbs 26

Verses: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28

Text

Hebrew

ESV

1	Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
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 a rod for the back of fools.
4	Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
5	Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6	Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7	Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8	Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
9	Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10	Like an archer who wounds everybody is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
11	Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
12	Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13	The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”
14	As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15	The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16	The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17	Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18	Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
19	is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
20	For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21	As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22	The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23	Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24	Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
25	when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26	though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27	Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28	A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

NIV

1	Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2	Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3	A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4	Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
5	Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6	Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7	Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8	Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9	Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10	Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11	As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12	Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13	The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14	As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15	The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16	The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17	Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18	Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows
19	is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20	Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21	As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22	The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.
23	Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24	A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.
25	Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26	His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27	If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.
28	A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

NLT

1	Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
2	Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
3	Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
4	Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
5	Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
6	Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison!
7	A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
8	Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
9	A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
10	An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
11	As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
12	There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
13	The lazy person claims, “There's a lion on the road! Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!”
14	As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.
15	Lazy people take food in their hand but don't even lift it to their mouth.
16	Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
17	Interfering in someone else's argument is as foolish as yanking a dog's ears.
18	Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19	is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”
20	Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
21	A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
22	Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart.
23	Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
24	People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they're deceiving you.
25	They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
26	While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
27	If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.
28	A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.

LXX

KJV

1	As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2	As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3	A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4	Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5	Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6	He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7	The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8	As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9	As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10	The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11	As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12	Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13	The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14	As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15	The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16	The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17	He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18	As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19	So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20	Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21	As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22	The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23	Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24	He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25	When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26	Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27	Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28	A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

^{Proverbs 25 ← Proverbs 26 → Proverbs 27}

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1	כַּשֶּׁ֤לֶג בַּקַּ֗יִץ וְכַמָּטָ֥ר בַּקָּצִ֑יר כֵּ֤ן לֹא נָאוֶ֖ה לִכְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד
2	כַּצִּפּ֣וֹר לָ֭נוּד כַּדְּר֣וֹר לָע֑וּף כֵּ֥ן קִֽלְלַ֥ת חִ֝נָּ֗ם לא ל֣וֹ תָבֹֽא
3	שׁ֣וֹט לַ֭סּוּס מֶ֣תֶג לַחֲמ֑וֹר וְ֝שֵׁ֗בֶט לְגֵ֣ו כְּסִילִֽים
4	אַל תַּ֣עַן כְּ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּֽן תִּשְׁוֶה לּ֥וֹ גַם אָֽתָּה
5	עֲנֵ֣ה כְ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּן יִהְיֶ֖הplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigהָיָה hebrew The word הָיָה means “to exist” or “to be” or “to become” or “to come into being” and occurs 3561 times in the Old Testament. This is the foundational verb of existence, identity, becoming and occurrence. * It is used in the creation narrative of Genesis 1, represented by the English words Genesis 1:3Exodus 3:12Ruth 1:1Isaiah 2:2 חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָֽיו
6	מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה שֹׁלֵ֖חַ דְּבָרִ֣ים בְּיַד כְּסִֽיל
7	דַּלְי֣וּ שֹׁ֭קַיִם מִפִּסֵּ֑חַ וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים
8	כִּצְר֣וֹר אֶ֭בֶן בְּמַרְגֵּמָ֑ה כֵּן נוֹתֵ֖ן לִכְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד
9	ח֭וֹחַ עָלָ֣ה בְיַד שִׁכּ֑וֹר וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים
10	רַ֥ב מְחֽוֹלֵֽל כֹּ֑ל וְשֹׂכֵ֥ר כְּ֝סִ֗יל וְשֹׂכֵ֥ר עֹבְרִֽים
11	כְּ֭כֶלֶב שָׁ֣ב עַל קֵא֑וֹ כְּ֝סִ֗יל שׁוֹנֶ֥ה בְאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ
12	רָאִ֗יתָ אִ֭ישׁ חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָ֑יו תִּקְוָ֖ה לִכְסִ֣יל מִמֶּֽנּוּ
13	אָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל שַׁ֣חַל בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ אֲ֝רִ֗י בֵּ֣ין הָרְחֹבֽוֹת
14	הַ֭דֶּלֶת תִּסּ֣וֹב עַל צִירָ֑הּ וְ֝עָצֵ֗ל עַל מִטָּתֽוֹ
15	טָ֘מַ֤ן עָצֵ֣ל יָ֭דוֹ בַּצַּלָּ֑חַת נִ֝לְאָ֗ה לַֽהֲשִׁיבָ֥הּ אֶל פִּֽיו
16	חָכָ֣ם עָצֵ֣ל בְּעֵינָ֑יו מִ֝שִּׁבְעָ֗ה מְשִׁ֣יבֵי טָֽעַם
17	מַחֲזִ֥יק בְּאָזְנֵי כָ֑לֶב עֹבֵ֥ר מִ֝תְעַבֵּ֗ר עַל רִ֥יב לֹּֽא לֽוֹ
18	כְּֽ֭מִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶ֥ה זִקִּ֗ים חִצִּ֥ים וָמָֽוֶת
19	כֵּֽן אִ֭ישׁ רִמָּ֣ה אֶתplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigאֵת hebrew The Hebrew אֵת word does not have a corresponding word in English. In Hebrew, it is a marker of the accusative, i.e. the word following it is the object of the sentence. For example, in Genesis 1:1 the word is preceded by בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים ( רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝אָמַ֗ר הֲֽלֹא מְשַׂחֵ֥ק אָֽנִי
20	בְּאֶ֣פֶס עֵ֭צִים תִּכְבֶּה אֵ֑שׁ וּבְאֵ֥ין נִ֝רְגָּ֗ן יִשְׁתֹּ֥ק מָדֽוֹן
21	פֶּחָ֣ם לְ֭גֶחָלִים וְעֵצִ֣ים לְאֵ֑שׁ וְאִ֥ישׁ מדונים מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים לְחַרְחַר רִֽיב
22	דִּבְרֵ֣י נִ֭רְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑ים וְ֝הֵ֗ם יָרְד֥וּ חַדְרֵי בָֽטֶן
23	כֶּ֣סֶף סִ֭יגִים מְצֻפֶּ֣ה עַל חָ֑רֶשׂ שְׂפָתַ֖יִם דֹּלְקִ֣ים וְלֶבplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigלֵב hebrew Meaning: * The heart * Used figuratively for the feelings, the will and even the intellect * The centre of anything Noun, masculine (although conceptually neutral, being used for both men and women). Occurs nearly 600 times in the Old Testament.1 Samuel 25:37Genesis 6:5Exodus 8:151 Samuel 24:51 Samuel 16:7Jeremiah 17:9Deuteronomy 10:16Deuteronomy 6:5Deuteronomy 6:5Psalm 9:1 (NIV)(verse 2 in the Hebrew Bible)Deuteronomy 6:5Genesis 6:51 Samuel 1:13Psalm 95:10Deuteronomy 6:5… רָֽע
24	בשפתו בִּ֭שְׂפָתָיו יִנָּכֵ֣ר שׂוֹנֵ֑א וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigקֶרֶב hebrew Meaning * Midst * Among * Within * Inwardly * The centre, whether literal, figurative or adverbial Masculine noun. Occurs over 250 times in the Old Testament. From the root קרב, meaning “to come near, approach.” So קֶרֶב is a noun form built from the verb Exodus 17:7Psalm 103:1 יָשִׁ֥ית מִרְמָֽה
25	כִּֽי יְחַנֵּ֣ן ק֭וֹלוֹ אַל תַּֽאֲמֶן בּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י שֶׁ֖בַע תּוֹעֵב֣וֹת בְּלִבּֽוֹplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigלֵב hebrew Meaning: * The heart * Used figuratively for the feelings, the will and even the intellect * The centre of anything Noun, masculine (although conceptually neutral, being used for both men and women). Occurs nearly 600 times in the Old Testament.1 Samuel 25:37Genesis 6:5Exodus 8:151 Samuel 24:51 Samuel 16:7Jeremiah 17:9Deuteronomy 10:16Deuteronomy 6:5Deuteronomy 6:5Psalm 9:1 (NIV)(verse 2 in the Hebrew Bible)Deuteronomy 6:5Genesis 6:51 Samuel 1:13Psalm 95:10Deuteronomy 6:5…
26	תִּכַּסֶּ֣ה שִׂ֭נְאָה בְּמַשָּׁא֑וֹן תִּגָּלֶ֖ה רָעָת֣וֹ בְקָהָֽל
27	כֹּֽרֶה שַּׁ֭חַת בָּ֣הּ יִפֹּ֑ל וְגֹ֥לֵ֥ל אֶ֝בֶן אֵלָ֥יו תָּשֽׁוּב
28	לְֽשׁוֹן שֶׁ֭קֶר יִשְׂנָ֣א דַכָּ֑יו וּפֶ֥ה חָ֝לָ֗ק יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה מִדְחֶֽה