Proverbs 26:1–12

As snow in summer, and aas rain in harvest,

bSo honour is not cseemly for a fool.

2  As the dbird by wandering, as the dswallow by flying,

So ethe curse causeless shall not come.

3  fA whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,

And ga rod for the fool’s back.

4  hAnswer not a fool according to his folly,

Lest thou also be like unto him.

5  iAnswer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in †his own conceit.

6  He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool

Cutteth off the feet, and kdrinketh ||damage.

7  The legs of the lame †are not equal:

So is a lparable in the mouth of fools.

8  ||As he that bindeth a stone in a sling,

bSo is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9  As ma thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a lparable in the mouth of fools.

10  ||The great God that nformed all things

Both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11  As pa dog returneth to his vomit,

So qa fool †returneth to his folly.

12  rSeest thou a man wise in his own conceit?

sThere is more hope of a fool than of him.