Provérbios 26

¹ As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.

² As the sparowe by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeles, shall not come.

³ Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a bridle, and a rod to the fooles backe.

⁴ Answer not a foolConsent not to him in his doings.according to his folly, lest thou also be like him.

⁵ Answer a foolReprove him as the matter requires.according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth offThat is, of the messenger whom he sends.the feet,That is, receives damage by it.[and] drinketh damage.

⁷ As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.

⁸ As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he that giueth glory to a foole.

⁹ [As] a thorn goethBy which he hurts both himself and others.up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ Meaning God.The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

¹¹ As a dog turneth againe to his owne vomit, so a foole turneth to his foolishnes.

¹² Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is]For the fool would rather be counselled than he: also the fool sins out of ignorance, and the other out of malice.more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³ The slothful [man] saith,Read (Pro_22:13).[There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.

¹⁴ As the doore turneth vpon his hinges, so doeth the slouthfull man vpon his bed.

¹⁵ The slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and it grieueth him to put it againe to his mouth.

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his owne conceite, then seuen men that can render a reason.

¹⁷ He that passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not vnto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the eares.

¹⁸ As he that faineth himselfe mad, casteth fire brands, arrowes, and mortall things,

¹⁹ So [is] the man [that] deceivethWho disguises himself to be that which he is not.his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

²⁰ Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.

²¹ As ye cole maketh burning coles, & wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.

²² The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.

²³ Burning lips andThey will soon break out and utter themselves.a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.

²⁴ He that hateth, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.

²⁵ When he speaketh kindly, believe him not: for [there are]Meaning many: he uses a certain number for the uncertain.seven abominations in his heart.

²⁶ [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the [whole]In the assembly of the godly.congregation.

²⁷ He that diggeth a pit shal fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall returne vnto him.

²⁸ A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.