[Image: Introduction to Proverbs]
PROVERBS 26
[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 everyone
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. (ESV)
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