Proverbs 26:3-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 26
3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools. 4Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, Or you will also be like him. 5Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, So that he will not be wise in his own eyes. 6One who sends a message by the hand of a fool Chops off his own feet and drinks violence. 7 Like useless legs to one who cannot walk, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools. 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is one who gives honor to a fool. 9 Like a thorn that sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools. 10 Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by. 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit, So is a fool who repeats his foolishness. 12Do you see a person wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 13 A lazy one says, 'There is a lion on the road! A lion is in the public square!' 14 As the door turns on its hinges, So does a lazy one on his bed. 15A lazy one buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. 16A lazy one is wiser in his own eyes Than seven people who can give a discreet answer. 17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears, So is one who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. 18Like a maniac who shoots Flaming arrows, arrows, and death, 19So is a person who deceives his neighbor, And says, 'Was I not joking?' 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no gossiper, quarreling quiets down.King James Version
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 26
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools. 4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness or you'll be like him yourself. 5Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he'll become wise in his own eyes. 6The one who sends a message by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp. 8Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling. 9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard. 10The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately. 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness.
12Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The slacker says, "There's a lion in the road -- a lion in the public square! "
14A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed.
15The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!
New Living Translation
5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
English Standard Version
Chapter 26
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. 4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. 6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 7Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. 9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 10Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. 11Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. 12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” 14As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. 15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. 16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. 17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death 19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.New International Version
Chapter 26
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. 6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison. 7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. 9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13A sluggard says, 'There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!'
14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
New King James Version
