Proverbs 26 - American Standard Version 2015

¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,\par\tab So honor is not seemly for a fool.

² As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,\par\tab So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,\par\tab And a rod for the back of fools.

⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly,\par\tab Lest thou also be like unto him.

⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,\par\tab Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool\par\tab Cutteth off {\i his own} feet, {\i and} drinketh in damage.

⁷ The legs of the lame hang loose;\par\tab So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

⁸ As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,\par\tab So is he that giveth honor to a fool.

⁹ {\i As} a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,\par\tab So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ {\i As} an archer that woundeth all,\par\tab So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

¹¹ As a dog that returneth to his vomit,\par\tab {\i So is} a fool that repeateth his folly.

¹² Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?\par\tab There is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³ The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way;\par\tab A lion is in the streets.

¹⁴ {\i As} the door turneth upon its hinges,\par\tab So doth the sluggard upon his bed.

¹⁵ The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;\par\tab It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit\par\tab Than seven men that can render a reason.

¹⁷ He that passeth by, {\i and} vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,\par\tab Is {\i like} one that taketh a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ As a madman who casteth firebrands,\par\tab Arrows, and death,

¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,\par\tab And saith, Am not I in sport?

²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goeth out;\par\tab And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

²¹ {\i As} coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,\par\tab So is a contentious man to inflame strife.

²² The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,\par\tab And they go down into the innermost parts.

²³ Fervent lips and a wicked heart\par\tab Are {\i like} an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips;\par\tab But he layeth up deceit within him:

²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not;\par\tab For there are seven abominations in his heart:

²⁶ Though {\i his} hatred cover itself with guile,\par\tab His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.

²⁷ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;\par\tab And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded;\par\tab And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.\par