Proverbs 26:5-26
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 26
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. 21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious person to kindle strife. 22The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. 23 Like an earthenware vessel overlaid with silver impurities Are burning lips and a wicked heart. 24One who hates disguises it with his lips, But he harbors deceit in his heart. 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, Because there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Though his hatred covers itself with deception, His wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.King James Version
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.
18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 26
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!
16In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven who can answer sensibly.
17A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that's not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
18Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,
19so is the person who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking! "
20Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down.
21As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being.
23Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel.
24A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within.
25When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart.
26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
New Living Translation
Chapter 26
5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.English Standard Version
Chapter 26
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. 21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. 23Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. 24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; 26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.New International Version
Chapter 26
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.
17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, 'I was only joking!'
20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
New King James Version
