1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. 2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. 6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. 7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 8 Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. 9 Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby. 11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. 12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. 15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. 16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. 17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own. 18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, 19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” 20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. 21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. 23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. 24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. 25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. 26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. 28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Proverbs 26
The complete chapter is stored in this page. A verse fragment in the URL highlights the requested range.
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 18:5–7
5 Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice. 6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. 7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Sirach 19:11–13
11 A fool will travail in pain with a word, as a woman in labor with a child. (WEB) 12 As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh, so is gossip in a fool. (WEB) 13 Question a friend; it may be he didn’t do it. If he did something, it may be that he may do it no more. (WEB)
Proverbs 10:9–11
9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 10 He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Ecclesiastes 10:11–13
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Proverbs 25:17–19
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you. 18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. 19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
Proverbs 23:8–10
8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. 9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Proverbs 29:19–21
19 A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond. 20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 21 A servant pampered from his youth will bring grief in the end.
Proverbs 27:21–23
21 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him. 22 Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him. 23 Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention…