Proverbs 26

New King James Version

² Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So^(B)a curse without cause shall not alight.

^3 (C)A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
^5 (D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
⁶ He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts offhis ownfeetanddrinks violence.
⁷ Likethe legs of the lame that hang limp
Isa proverb in the mouth of fools.
⁸ Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Ishe who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Likea thornthatgoes into the hand of a drunkard
Isa proverb in the mouth of fools.
^10 [a]The greatGodwho formed everything
Gives the foolhishire and the transgressorhiswages.
^11 (E)As a dog returns to his own vomit,
^(F)Soa fool repeats his folly.
^12 (G)Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There ismore hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ The lazymansays, “There isa lion in the road!
A fierce lionisin the^[b]streets!”
¹⁴ Asa door turns on its hinges,
Sodoesthe lazymanon his bed.
¹⁵ The^(H)lazymanburies his hand in the^[c]bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
¹⁶ The lazyman iswiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

¹⁷ He who passes byandmeddles in a quarrel not his own
Is likeone who takes a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
¹⁹ Isthe manwhodeceives his neighbor,
And says,^(I)“I was only joking!”

²⁰ Wherethere isno wood, the fire goes out;
And wherethere isno^[d]talebearer, strife ceases.
^21 (J)Ascharcoalisto burning coals, and wood to fire,
Soisa contentious man to kindle strife.
²² The words of a^[e]talebearerarelike^[f]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the^[g]inmost body.

²³ Fervent lips with a wicked heart
Are likeearthenware covered with silver dross.

²⁴ He who hates, disguisesitwith his lips,
And lays up deceit within himself;
^25 (K)When^[h]he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
Forthere areseven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ Though hishatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

^27 (L)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hatesthose who arecrushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works^(M)ruin.