Proverbs 26:15–19

15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears

is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting

flaming arrows of death

19 is one who deceives their neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

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 sensibly.

17 Whoever 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!”

15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom;

It grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit

Than seven men that can render a reason.

17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him,

Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour,

And saith, Am not I in sport?

15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl;

It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own

Is like one who takes a 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 was only joking!”

15 Lazy people may put their hands in the dish,

but they are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.

16 The lazy person thinks he is wiser

than seven people who give sensible answers.

17 Interfering in someone else’s quarrel as you pass by

is like grabbing a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman shooting

deadly, burning arrows

19 is the one who tricks a neighbor

and then says, “I was just joking.”

15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;

It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit

Than seven men that can render a reason.

17 He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,

Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a madman who casteth firebrands,

Arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,

And saith, Am not I in sport?

15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that answer discreetly.

17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?

15 A lazy person puts his fork in his food. 

He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth. 

16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer. 

17 ⸤Like⸥ grabbing a dog by the ears, 

⸤so⸥ is a bystander who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel. 

18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death, 

19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” 

15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;

he is too weary to bring it to his mouth.

16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser

than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his

is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,

19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

15 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish

and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.

16 The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem

than seven who can answer discreetly.

17 Like someone who takes a passing dog by the ears

is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.

18 Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,

19 so is one who deceives a neighbor

and says, “I am only joking!”

15 A lazy person buries his hands in the dish;

he is too tired to return it to his mouth.

16 A lazy person is wiser in his eyes

than seven who answer discreetly.

17 Grabbing onto the ears of a dog

passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.

18 Like a maniac who shoots

firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 so is a man who deceives his neighbor,

but says “Am I not joking?”

15 A person who doesn’t want to work leaves his hand in the dish.

He acts as if he is too tired to bring it back up to his mouth.

16 A person who doesn’t want to work is wiser in his own eyes

than seven people who give careful answers.

17 Don’t get mixed up in someone else’s fight as you are passing by.

That’s like picking a dog up by its ears.

18 Suppose a crazy person shoots

flaming arrows that can kill.

19 A man who lies to his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!” is just like that person.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears

Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.

18 Like a madman who throws

Firebrands, arrows and death,

19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor,

And says, “Was I not joking?”