KJ3 Literal Translation
Proverbs 26
Answer not a fool according to his foolishness.
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2As the wandering bird, as the swallow in its flying, so the causeless curse shall not come.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4Answer not a fool according to his foolishness, lest you become like him, even you.
5Answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6He sending messages by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7As the legs of the lame one are weak, so a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8As he binding a stone on a sling, so he giving honor to a fool.
9As a thorn goes up into the drunkard's hand, so a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10Great is the One who produced all things, but he who hires a fool is like one who hires those passing by.
11As a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats in his foolishness.
12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The lazy one says, A lion is in the way, a lion is between the open places!
14As the door turns on its hinge, so the lazy one on his bed.
15The lazy one buries his hand in the dish; he is weary to bring it back to his mouth.
16The lazy one is wiser in his own eyes than seven that return a wise judgment.
17One who grabs the ears of a dog is like one passing by; he is passing wrath on himself over strife that is not his.
18As one feigning weakness throwing sparks, arrows and death,
19so is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, Am I not joking?
20The fire goes out where there is no wood, so the strife becomes quiet. where there is no slanderer.
21As coal to burning embers, and wood to fire, so is a man of strife to kindle contention.
22The words of a slanderer are gulped down, and they go down into the chambers of the heart.
23As with silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24One who hates disguises himself with his lips, and he lays up deceit in his inner being;
25when his voice is gracious, do not believe him, for there are seven disgusting things in his heart.
26Though one's hating is covered by guile, his evil purpose shall be revealed in the assembly.
27He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it shall turn back on him.
28A tongue of falsehood hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works an occasion of stumbling.
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