Shared Word Translation
Proverbs 26
The Fool and Folly
Like snow in summer
and rain at harvest,
so honor
is not fitting for a fool.
Like a sparrow flitting
and a swallow flying,
so a curse without cause
does not come to rest.
A whip for the horse,
a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod
for the back of fools.
Do not answer a fool
according to their folly,
lest you also become
like them.
Answer a fool
according to their folly,
lest they become wise
in their own eyes.
Whoever sends a message
by the hand of a fool
cuts off their own feet
and drinks violence.
Like the legs of the lame
hanging loose
is a proverb
in the mouth of fools.
Like tying a stone
into a sling
is giving honor
to a fool.
Like a thorn
that enters the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb
in the mouth of fools.
Like an archer
who wounds everyone
is one who hires a fool
or whoever happens to pass by.
Like a dog
that returns to its vomit
is a fool
who repeats folly.
Do you see someone
wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope
for a fool than for them.
The Lazy Person
The lazy person says,
“There is a lion in the road!
A lion
in the public square!”
As a door turns
on its hinges,
so the lazy person
turns on the bed.
The lazy person
buries a hand in the dish
and is too weary
to bring it back to the mouth.
The lazy person
is wiser in their own eyes
than seven people
who can answer sensibly.
Conflict and Deception
Like one who grabs a dog
by the ears
is a passerby
who meddles in someone else’s quarrel.
Like a madman
who shoots firebrands,
arrows, and death,
so is one
who deceives a neighbor
and says,
“I was only joking!”
Without wood
the fire goes out;
without a gossip
conflict quiets down.
As charcoal is for hot embers
and wood for fire,
so a contentious person
is for kindling conflict.
The words of a gossip
are like delicious morsels;
they go down
to the innermost parts.
Hatred Hidden by Speech
Like silver glaze
covering an earthen vessel
are smooth lips
with an evil heart.
One who hates
disguises it with their lips,
but within themselves
they store deception.
When they make their voice gracious,
do not trust them,
for seven abominations
are in their heart.
Though hatred
is covered with deception,
its wickedness
will be exposed in the assembly.
Whoever digs a pit
will fall into it,
and whoever rolls a stone
will have it roll back upon them.
A lying tongue
hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth
brings ruin.