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Proverbs 26

Like snow in summer or rain at harvest, honour doesn't suit a fool. Like a bird wandering and a swallow flying, a curse without cause will not come. A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back. Don't answer a fool according to his folly, or you'll become like him yourself.

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The fool

Like snow in summer or rain at harvest, honour doesn't suit a fool. Like a bird wandering and a swallow flying, a curse without cause will not come. A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back. Don't answer a fool according to his folly, or you'll become like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he'll be wise in his own eyes. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks damage. The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools. Giving honour to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling. Like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk is a proverb in the mouth of fools. The great God who formed all things rewards both the fool and transgressors. As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, that's how honour doesn't fit a fool. Like the bird flitting about and like the swallow flying, that's how a curse without cause won't come. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back. Don't answer a fool according to his folly, or you'll be like him too. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he'll be wise in his own eyes. The one who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks harm. The legs of the lame hang loose. That's what a saying is in the mouth of fools. Like tying a stone in a sling, that's what giving honour to a fool is. Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunk man, that's what a saying is in the mouth of fools. The great God who made everything pays back both the fool and the ones who step over the line. Like a dog that goes back to its own vomit, that's what a fool is who goes back to his folly. Do you see a man who's wise in his own eyes? There's more hope of a fool than of him.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

1

Like snow in summer or rain at harvest, honour doesn't suit a fool.

Plain English

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, that's how honour doesn't fit a fool.

King James Version, 1611

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

2

Like a bird wandering and a swallow flying, a curse without cause will not come.

Plain English

Like the bird flitting about and like the swallow flying, that's how a curse without cause won't come.

King James Version, 1611

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

3

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back.

Plain English

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back.

King James Version, 1611

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

4

Don't answer a fool according to his folly, or you'll become like him yourself.

Plain English

Don't answer a fool according to his folly, or you'll be like him too.

King James Version, 1611

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

5

Answer a fool according to his folly, or he'll be wise in his own eyes.

King James Version, 1611

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

6

Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks damage.

Plain English

The one who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks harm.

King James Version, 1611

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.

Plain English

The legs of the lame hang loose. That's what a saying is in the mouth of fools.

King James Version, 1611

The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8

Giving honour to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling.

Plain English

Like tying a stone in a sling, that's what giving honour to a fool is.

King James Version, 1611

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9

Like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Plain English

Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunk man, that's what a saying is in the mouth of fools.

King James Version, 1611

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10

The great God who formed all things rewards both the fool and transgressors.

Plain English

The great God who made everything pays back both the fool and the ones who step over the line.

King James Version, 1611

The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11

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

Plain English

Like a dog that goes back to its own vomit, that's what a fool is who goes back to his folly.

King James Version, 1611

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

12

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

Plain English

Do you see a man who's wise in his own eyes? There's more hope of a fool than of him.

King James Version, 1611

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

The lazy man and the tale-bearer

The lazy man says, ‘There's a lion in the way! There's a lion in the streets!’ As a door turns on its hinges, so a lazy man turns on his bed. A lazy man buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. A lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. Whoever passes by and meddles in a quarrel that isn't his is like someone grabbing a dog by the ears. Like a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death, So is the man who deceives his neighbour and then says, ‘I was only joking.’ Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; where there is no talebearer, conflict dies down. As coals are to burning coals and wood to fire, so a contentious man is to kindling conflict. The words of a talebearer are like wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a broken piece of pottery coated with impure silver. Whoever hates disguises it with his lips and stores up deceit within himself. When he speaks kindly, don't believe him, because seven disgusting things are in his heart. Though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be exposed before everyone. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those it has afflicted, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

The lazy man says: There's a lion in the way. There's a lion in the streets. Like the door turns on its hinges, that's what the lazy man does on his bed. The lazy man hides his hand in the dish. It's too much trouble for him to bring it to his mouth again. The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a reason. The one who goes past and meddles in an argument that isn't his is like one who takes a dog by the ears. Like a mad man who throws firebrands, arrows and death, that's what the man is who tricks his neighbour and says: I was only joking. Where there's no wood, the fire goes out. And where there's no tale-bearer, the fighting stops. Like coals to burning coals and wood to fire, that's how a fighting man is at lighting up an argument. The words of a tale-bearer are like tasty bits, and they go down into the deepest parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a clay pot covered with silver dross. The one who hates disguises it with his lips and stores up trickery inside him. When he speaks kindly, don't believe him. Because there are seven disgusting things in his heart. Though his hatred is covered by trickery, his wickedness will be shown in front of the whole gathering. The one who digs a pit will fall into it. And the one who rolls a stone — it'll come back on him. A lying tongue hates the ones it's crushed, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

13

The lazy man says, ‘There's a lion in the way! There's a lion in the streets!’

Plain English

The lazy man says: There's a lion in the way. There's a lion in the streets.

King James Version, 1611

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14

As a door turns on its hinges, so a lazy man turns on his bed.

Plain English

Like the door turns on its hinges, that's what the lazy man does on his bed.

King James Version, 1611

As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15

A lazy man buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

Plain English

The lazy man hides his hand in the dish. It's too much trouble for him to bring it to his mouth again.

King James Version, 1611

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16

A lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

Plain English

The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a reason.

King James Version, 1611

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

17

Whoever passes by and meddles in a quarrel that isn't his is like someone grabbing a dog by the ears.

Plain English

The one who goes past and meddles in an argument that isn't his is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

King James Version, 1611

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18

Like a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,

Plain English

Like a mad man who throws firebrands, arrows and death,

King James Version, 1611

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19

So is the man who deceives his neighbour and then says, ‘I was only joking.’

Plain English

that's what the man is who tricks his neighbour and says: I was only joking.

King James Version, 1611

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

20

Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; where there is no talebearer, conflict dies down.

Plain English

Where there's no wood, the fire goes out. And where there's no tale-bearer, the fighting stops.

King James Version, 1611

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 a contentious man is to kindling conflict.

Plain English

Like coals to burning coals and wood to fire, that's how a fighting man is at lighting up an argument.

King James Version, 1611

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 like wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Plain English

The words of a tale-bearer are like tasty bits, and they go down into the deepest parts of the belly.

King James Version, 1611

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 broken piece of pottery coated with impure silver.

Plain English

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a clay pot covered with silver dross.

King James Version, 1611

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24

Whoever hates disguises it with his lips and stores up deceit within himself.

Plain English

The one who hates disguises it with his lips and stores up trickery inside him.

King James Version, 1611

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25

When he speaks kindly, don't believe him, because seven disgusting things are in his heart.

Plain English

When he speaks kindly, don't believe him. Because there are seven disgusting things in his heart.

King James Version, 1611

When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26

Though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be exposed before everyone.

Plain English

Though his hatred is covered by trickery, his wickedness will be shown in front of the whole gathering.

King James Version, 1611

Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

27

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

Plain English

The one who digs a pit will fall into it. And the one who rolls a stone — it'll come back on him.

King James Version, 1611

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

28

A lying tongue hates those it has afflicted, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Plain English

A lying tongue hates the ones it's crushed, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

King James Version, 1611

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.