Châm Ngôn 26

¹Snow does not belong in summer, nor rain at harvest time, \q and honor does not belong with a fool. ²Like a sparrow flitting about or a swallow darting past, \q an undeserved curse flies back to the one who spoke it.^{a 3}The horse needs a whip, the donkey a bridle, \q and the backs of fools a rod. ⁴Do not answer fools on the terms of their folly, \q or you will become like them yourself. ⁵Answer fools as their folly deserves, \q or they will think themselves wise. ⁶Whoever sends a message by a fool \q cuts off their own feet and drinks down trouble. ⁷Like the useless legs of someone who is lame \q is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ⁸Giving honor to a fool \q is like tying a stone into a sling. ⁹Like a thorn branch in the hand of a drunk \q is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰Like an archer who shoots at anyone \q is the one who hires a fool or any stranger passing by.^{b 11}As a dog goes back to its vomit, \q so fools return to their foolishness. ¹²Do you see people who are wise in their own eyes? \q A fool has more hope than they do. ¹³The lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road! \q A lion loose in the streets!” ¹⁴As a door swings back and forth on its hinge, \q so the lazy one turns over in bed. ¹⁵The lazy bury their hand in the dish \q and are too tired to lift it back to their mouth. ¹⁶The lazy think they are wiser \q than seven people who can give a sensible answer. ¹⁷Like someone who seizes a stray dog by the ears \q is a passerby who gets worked up \q over a quarrel that is none of their business. ¹⁸Like a maniac who hurls flaming darts, arrows and death, ¹⁹so is anyone who tricks a neighbor \q and then says, “I was only joking!” ²⁰When the wood runs out, the fire goes out; \q when there is no gossip, quarrels die down. ²¹As charcoal feeds embers and wood feeds fire, \q so a quarrelsome person keeps conflict burning.

²²Gossip is like tasty bites of food; \q it goes all the way down inside. ²³Like a coat of silver dross over a clay pot \q are warm words that hide an evil heart.^{c 24}People who hate disguise it with their words, \q while inside they harbor deceit. ²⁵When they speak graciously, do not believe them, \q for seven detestable things fill their hearts. ²⁶Hatred may hide behind deceit, \q but their wickedness will be exposed before the whole community. ²⁷Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; \q whoever starts a stone rolling will have it roll back on them. ²⁸A lying tongue hates the people it hurts, \q and flattering words bring ruin.