Proverbs 26-27

Proverbs 26

¹As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

²As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not.

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 folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

⁶He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.

⁷The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

⁸As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

⁹As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.

¹⁰As an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

¹¹As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is a fool that repeateth his folly.

¹²Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

¹⁴As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the sluggard upon his bed.

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

¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

¹⁷He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

¹⁸As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;

¹⁹So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

²⁰For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

²¹As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to inflame strife.

²²The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

²³Fervent lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

²⁴He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:

²⁵When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart:

²⁶Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before the congregation.

²⁷Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

²⁸A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Proverbs 27

¹Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

²Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

³A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s vexation is heavier than them both.

⁴Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

⁵Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.

⁶Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

⁷The full soul loatheth an honeycomb: but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

⁸As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

⁹Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel.

¹⁰Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

¹¹My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

¹²A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

¹³Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for a strange woman.

¹⁴He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

¹⁵A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike:

¹⁶He that would restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

¹⁷Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

¹⁸Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

¹⁹As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

²⁰Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and the eyes of man are never satisfied.

²¹The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.

²²Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among bruised corn, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

²³Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds:

²⁴For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?

²⁵The hay is carried, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.

²⁶The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field:

²⁷And there will be goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.