Proverbs 26
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNET Bible
1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool. 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere. 2Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools. 3A whip for the horse and 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. 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.
5Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he'll become wise in his own eyes. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.
6The one who sends a message by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 6Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.
7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp. 7Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling. 8Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard. 9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone. 10Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool 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. 12Do you see a man 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!" 13The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!"
14A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed. 14Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth. 15The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven men who can answer sensibly. 16The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation than seven people who respond with good sense.
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. 17Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.
18Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows, 18Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows,
19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" 19so is a person who deceives his neighbor, and says, "Was I not only joking?"
20Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. 20Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.
21As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 21Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.
22A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being. 22The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person's innermost being.
23Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel. 23Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within. 24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.
25When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him.
26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly. 26Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.
27The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone-- it will come back on him. 27The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone--it will come back on him.
28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. 28A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 25
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