Proverbs 26 — MSB

26Verse 1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.^{Verse 2}Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.^{Verse 3}A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!^{Verse 4}Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.^{Verse 5}Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.^{Verse 6}Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.^{Verse 7}Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^{Verse 8}Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.^{Verse 9}Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^{Verse 10}Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.^{Verse 11}As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.^{Verse 12}Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.^{Verse 13}The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”^{Verse 14}As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.^{Verse 15}The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.^{Verse 16}The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.^{Verse 17}Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.^{Verse 18}Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,^{Verse 19}so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”^{Verse 20}Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.^{Verse 21}Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.^{Verse 22}The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.^{Verse 23}Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.^{Verse 24}A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.^{Verse 25}When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.^{Verse 26}Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.^{Verse 27}He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.^{Verse 28}A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.