Proverbs 26:1–27:27

Similitudes, Instructions

1 Like snow in summer and like arain in harvest,

So honor is not bfitting for a fool.

2 Like a asparrow in its 1flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

So a bcurse without cause does not 2alight.

3 A awhip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

And a brod for the back of fools.

4 aDo not answer a fool according to his folly,

Or you will also be like him.

5 aAnswer a fool as his folly deserves,

That he not be bwise in his own eyes.

6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence

Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.

7 Like the legs which 1are useless to the lame,

So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like 1one who binds a stone in a sling,

So is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn which 1falls into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 1Like an archer who wounds everyone,

So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

11 Like aa dog that returns to its vomit

Is a fool who brepeats 1his folly.

12 Do you see a man awise in his own eyes?

bThere is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The asluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

A lion is 1in the open square!”

14 As the door turns on its hinges,

So does the asluggard on his bed.

15 The asluggard buries his hand in the dish;

He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

16 The sluggard is awiser in his own eyes

Than seven men who can 1give a discreet answer.

17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears

Is he who passes by and 1meddles with astrife not belonging to him.

18 Like a madman who throws

aFirebrands, arrows and death,

19 So is the man who adeceives his neighbor,

And says, “bWas I not joking?”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no awhisperer, bcontention quiets down.

21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a acontentious man to kindle strife.

22 The awords of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the 1innermost parts of the body.

23 Like an earthen avessel overlaid with silver bdross

Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

24 He who ahates disguises it with his lips,

But he lays up bdeceit in his 1heart.

25 When 1he aspeaks graciously, do not believe him,

For there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Though his hatred acovers itself with guile,

His wickedness will be brevealed before the assembly.

27 He who adigs a pit will fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates 1those it crushes,

And a aflattering mouth works ruin.

Chapter 27

Warnings and Instructions

1 aDo not boast about tomorrow,

For you bdo not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let aanother praise you, and not your own mouth;

A stranger, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,

But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,

But awho can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is aopen rebuke

Than love that is concealed.

6 Faithful are the awounds of a friend,

But 1deceitful are the bkisses of an enemy.

7 A sated 1man 2loathes honey,

But to a famished 1man any bitter thing is sweet.

8 Like a abird that wanders from her nest,

So is a man who bwanders from his 1home.

9 aOil and perfume make the heart glad,

So a 1man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

10 Do not forsake your own afriend or byour father’s friend,

And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;

Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

11 aBe wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

That I may breply to him who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,

The 1naive proceed and pay the penalty.

13 aTake his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;

And for an 1adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

14 aHe who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,

It will be reckoned a curse to him.

15 A aconstant dripping on a day of steady rain

And a contentious woman are alike;

16 He who would 1restrain her 1restrains the wind,

And 2grasps oil with his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another.

18 He who tends the afig tree will eat its fruit,

And he who bcares for his master will be honored.

19 As in water face reflects face,

So the heart of man reflects man.

20 1aSheol and 2Abaddon are bnever satisfied,

Nor are the ceyes of man ever satisfied.

21 The acrucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,

And each bis tested by the praise accorded him.

22 Though you apound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,

Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

23 aKnow well the 1condition of your flocks,

And pay attention to your herds;

24 For riches are not forever,

Nor does a acrown endure to all generations.

25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,

And the herbs of the mountains are agathered in,

26 The lambs will be for your clothing,

And the goats will bring the price of a field,

27 And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food,

For the food of your household,

And sustenance for your maidens.