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Proverbs 26
This reads like a small anthology sorted by subject. Verses 1-12 are about the fool, 13-16 about the sluggard, 17-22 about the meddler and the quarrel-stirrer, and 23-28 about the smooth-talking deceiver. The fool section is built on similes — honor for a fool is as out of place as snow in summer (v.1), a parable in his mouth like a lame man's dangling legs (v.7). Watch the famous pair at verses 4 and 5, which deliberately give opposite advice back to back.
- 1
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
- 2
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
- 3
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
- 4
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
- 5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
- 6
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
- 7
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
- 8
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
- 9
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
- 10
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
- 11
As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
- 12
Do you see a man 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! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
- 14
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
- 15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
- 16
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
- 17
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
- 18
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
- 19
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
- 20
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
- 21
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
- 22
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
- 23
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
- 24
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
- 25
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
- 26
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
- 27
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
- 28
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
- 1
COMO la nieve en el verano, y la lluvia en la siega, así conviene al necio la honra.
- 2
Como el gorrión en su vagar, y como la golondrina en su vuelo, así la maldición sin causa nunca vendrá.
- 3
El látigo para el caballo, y el cabestro para el asno, y la vara para la espalda del necio.
- 4
Nunca respondas al necio en conformidad á su necedad, para que no seas tú también como él.
- 5
Responde al necio según su necedad, porque no se estime sabio en su opinión.
- 6
Como el que se corta los pies y bebe su daño, así es el que envía algo por mano de un necio.
- 7
Alzar las piernas del cojo, así es el proverbio en la boca del necio.
- 8
Como quien liga la piedra en la honda, así hace el que al necio da honra.
- 9
Espinas hincadas en mano del embriagado, tal es el proverbio en la boca de los necios.
- 10
El grande cría todas las cosas; y da la paga al insensato, y la da á los transgresores.
- 11
Como perro que vuelve á su vómito, así el necio que repite su necedad.
- 12
¿Has visto hombre sabio en su opinión? más esperanza hay del necio que de él.
- 13
Dice el perezoso: El león está en el camino; el león está en las calles.
- 14
Las puertas se revuelven en sus quicios: así el perezoso en su cama.
- 15
Esconde el perezoso su mano en el seno; cánsase de tornarla á su boca.
- 16
A su ver es el perezoso más sabio que siete que le den consejo.
- 17
El que pasando se deja llevar de la ira en pleito ajeno, es como el que toma al perro por las orejas.
- 18
Como el que enloquece, y echa llamas y saetas y muerte,
- 19
Tal es el hombre que daña á su amigo, y dice: Ciertamente me chanceaba.
- 20
Sin leña se apaga el fuego: y donde no hay chismoso, cesa la contienda.
- 21
El carbón para brasas, y la leña para el fuego: y el hombre rencilloso para encender contienda.
- 22
Las palabras del chismoso parecen blandas; mas ellas entran hasta lo secreto del vientre.
- 23
Como escoria de plata echada sobre el tiesto, son los labios enardecidos y el corazón malo.
- 24
Otro parece en los labios el que aborrece; mas en su interior pone engaño.
- 25
Cuando hablare amigablemente, no le creas; porque siete abominaciones hay en su corazón.
- 26
Encúbrese el odio con disimulo; mas su malicia será descubierta en la congregación.
- 27
El que cavare sima, caerá en ella: y el que revuelva la piedra, á él volverá.
- 28
La falsa lengua atormenta al que aborrece: y la boca lisonjera hace resbaladero.
Answer him, don't answer him
"Don't answer a fool according to his folly" (v.4), then "Answer a fool according to his folly" (v.5). The contradiction is the point: each is true in a different moment — one warns against sinking to his level, the other against letting him stay "wise in his own eyes."
The closing unit darkens the tone. The whisperer's words go "into the innermost parts" (v.22), charming speech hides "seven abominations" (v.25), and the one who digs a pit falls into it — flattery and malice circling back on themselves.
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