| Chapter 26 |
1 | As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
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2 | As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
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3 | A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
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4 | Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
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5 | Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
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6 | He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
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7 | The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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8 | As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
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9 | [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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10 | A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
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11 | As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
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12 | Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
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13 | The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
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14 | [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
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15 | The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
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16 | A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
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17 | He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
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18 | As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
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19 | so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
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20 | Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
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21 | [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
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22 | The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
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23 | Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
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24 | He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
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25 | when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
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26 | Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
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27 | Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
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28 | A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
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