Similitudes and Instructions
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. 2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. 5 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 off his own feet and drinks violence. 7 Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool. 9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 10 Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard. 11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly. 12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. 15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer discreetly. 17 He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. 18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” 20 For lack of wood the fire goes out; and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. 21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. 23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart. 24 He who hates, dissembles with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; 26 though his hatred be covered with guile, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling. 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. — Proverbs 26 | Revised Standard Version (RSV) Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 6:6; Genesis 39:17; Leviticus 19:16; Numbers 23:8; 1 Samuel 12:17; Esther 7:10; Psalm 28:3; Psalm 32:9; Psalm 41:6; Proverbs 3:30; Proverbs 6:6; Proverbs 6:9; Proverbs 10:26; Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 27:11; Isaiah 50:11; Matthew 7:6; Matthew 16:1; Luke 8:17; Luke 11:39; John 9:41; Ephesians 5:4; James 3:5; 2 Peter 2:22
Proverbs 26 | Resources from Ligonier Ministries
