LEB - Proverbs - 26

26:1  Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

26:2  Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying, so an undeserved curse does not go forth.

26:3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

26:4  Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest you become like him—even you.

26:5  Answer a fool according to his folly, or else he will be wise in his own eyes.

26:6  Like cutting off feet or drinking violence, so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.

26:7  Like legs that hang limp from a lame person, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

26:8  Like binding a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.

26:9  Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

26:10  Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.

26:11  Like a dog returning to his vomit is a fool reverting to his folly.

26:12  Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

26:13  A lazy person says “A lion is in the road! A lion among the streets!”

26:14  The door turns on its hinge, and a lazy person on his bed.

26:15  A lazy person buries his hands in the dish; he is too tired to return it to his mouth.

26:16  A lazy person is wiser in his eyes than seven who answer discreetly.

26:17  Grabbing onto the ears of a dog passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.

26:18  Like a maniac who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,

26:19  so is a man who deceives his neighbor, but says “Am I not joking?”

26:20  For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.

26:21  As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire, so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.

26:22  The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.

26:23  Like ⌞impure silver⌟ which overlays an earthen vessel, so are smooth lips and an evil heart.

26:24  On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but ⌞inside⌟ he will harbor deceit.

26:25  When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations are in his heart.

26:26  Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly.

26:27  He who digs a pit, in it he will fall, and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back.

26:28  A tongue of deceit hates its victim, and a flattering mouth makes ruin.