Proverbs 26 ESV | WeDevote Bible

1Like snow in summer or 26:1 [1 Sam. 12:17] rain in harvest,

so 26:1 [ver. 8] honor is 26:1 ch. 17:7; 19:10not fitting for a fool.

2Like 26:2 ch. 27:8; Ps. 84:3a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

26:2 [Num. 23:8; Deut. 23:5; 2 Sam. 16:12]a curse that is causeless does not alight.

326:3 [Ps. 32:9] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and 26:3 See ch. 19:29a rod for the back of fools.

426:4 [2 Sam. 16:11; 2 Kgs. 18:36; Luke 23:9]Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

526:5 See Matt. 16:1-4; 21:24-27Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be 26:5 ch. 28:11; [Rom. 12:16]wise in his own eyes.

6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and 26:6 [ch. 13:2; Job 15:16]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 26:8 [ver. 1]one who gives honor to a fool.

9Like 26:9 [ch. 23:35]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.26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby

11Like 26:11 Cited 2 Pet. 2:22a dog that returns to his vomit

is 26:11 [Ex. 8:15]a fool who repeats his folly.

12Do you see a man who is 26:12 ch. 28:11; [Rom. 12:16] wise in his own eyes?

26:12 ch. 29:20There is more hope for a fool than for him.

1326:13 ch. 22:13The 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.

1526:15 ch. 19:24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16The sluggard is 26:16 [See ver. 12above] wiser in his own eyes

26:16 [ver. 25; ch. 6:16]; See Job 5:19than 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 26:18 [Isa. 50:11]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 26:20 ch. 16:28whisperer, 26:20 ch. 22:10quarreling ceases.

21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is 26:21 See ch. 15:18a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

2226:22 ch. 18:8The words of 26:22 [See ver. 20above]a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

2326:23 [Matt. 23:27; Luke 11:39] Like the 26:23 See ch. 25:4glaze26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross covering an earthen vessel

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips

and harbors deceit in his heart;

2526:25 See Ps. 28:3when he speaks graciously, believe him not,

for there are 26:25 [ver. 16]seven abominations in his heart;

26though his hatred be covered with deception,

his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

2726:27 [ch. 28:10]; See Ps. 7:15Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

28A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

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