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The Blue Letter Bible

Proverbs 26 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

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Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:1 - Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:2 - Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
a curse that is causeless does not alight.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:3 - A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:4 - Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:5 - Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:6 - Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:7 - Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:8 - Like one who binds the stone in the sling
is one who gives honor to a fool.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:9 - Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:10 - Like an archer who wounds everyone
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:11 - Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool who repeats his folly.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:12 - Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:13 - The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
There is a lion in the streets!”
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:14 - As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a sluggard on his bed.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:15 - The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:16 - The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who can answer sensibly.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:17 - Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:18 - Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:19 - is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I am only joking!”
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:20 - For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:21 - As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:22 - The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:23 - Like the glaze[fn] covering an earthen vessel
are fervent lips with an evil heart.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:24 - Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
and harbors deceit in his heart;
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:25 - when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:26 - though his hatred be covered with deception,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:27 - Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 26:28 - A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
ESV Footnotes
Or hires a fool or passersby
By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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Proverbs Chapter 26 — Additional Translations: