Proverbs 26

^{Proverbs 26:1} Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.

^{Proverbs 26:2} Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

^{Proverbs 26:3} A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

^{Proverbs 26:4} Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

^{Proverbs 26:5} Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.

^{Proverbs 26:6} Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

^{Proverbs 26:7} Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

^{Proverbs 26:8} Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

^{Proverbs 26:9} Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

^{Proverbs 26:10} Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.

^{Proverbs 26:11} As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

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

^{Proverbs 26:13} The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”

^{Proverbs 26:14} As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.

^{Proverbs 26:15} The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

^{Proverbs 26:16} The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

^{Proverbs 26:17} Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

^{Proverbs 26:18} Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,

^{Proverbs 26:19} so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

^{Proverbs 26:20} Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

^{Proverbs 26:21} Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

^{Proverbs 26:22} The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

^{Proverbs 26:23} Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

^{Proverbs 26:24} A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.

^{Proverbs 26:25} When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.

^{Proverbs 26:26} Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

^{Proverbs 26:27} He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

^{Proverbs 26:28} A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.