Proverbs 26

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

²As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth 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 one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.

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

¹⁰As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a 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.