Proverbs 26

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref Like snow in summer and rain when the grain is being cut, so honour is not natural for the foolish.

2 Ref As the sparrow in her wandering and the swallow in her flight, so the curse does not come without a cause.

3 Ref A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.

4 Ref Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.

5 Ref Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.

6 Ref He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is cutting off his feet and drinking in damage.

7 Ref The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish.

8 Ref Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.

9 Ref Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man overcome by drink, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man.

10 Ref Like an archer wounding all who go by, is a foolish man overcome by drink.

11 Ref Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.

12 Ref Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him.

13 Ref The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 Ref A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work on his bed.

15 Ref The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin: lifting it again to his mouth is a weariness to him.

16 Ref The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.

17 Ref He who gets mixed up in a fight which is not his business, is like one who takes a dog by the ears while it is going by.

18 Ref As one who is off his head sends about flaming sticks and arrows of death,

19 Ref So is the man who gets the better of his neighbour by deceit, and says, Am I not doing so in sport?

20 Ref Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended.

21 Ref Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.

22 Ref The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

23 Ref Smooth lips and an evil heart are like a vessel of earth plated with silver waste.

24 Ref With his lips the hater makes things seem what they are not, but deceit is stored up inside him;

25 Ref When he says fair words, have no belief in him; for in his heart are seven evils:

26 Ref Though his hate is covered with deceit, his sin will be seen openly before the meeting of the people.

27 Ref He who makes a hole in the earth will himself go falling into it: and on him by whom a stone is rolled the stone will come back again.

28 Ref A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.

King James Version (KJV)

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

2 Ref As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

3 Ref A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

4 Ref Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

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

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

7 Ref The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 Ref As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

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

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

11 Ref As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

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

13 Ref The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 Ref As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15 Ref The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

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

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

18 Ref As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

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

20 Ref Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21 Ref As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 Ref The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Ref Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 Ref He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

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

26 Ref Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

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

28 Ref A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

World English Bible (WEB)

1 Ref Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Ref Like a fluttering sparrow, Like a darting swallow, So the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.

3 Ref A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools!

4 Ref Don't answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.

5 Ref Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 Ref One who sends a message by the hand of a fool Is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

7 Ref Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 Ref As one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Ref Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 Ref As an archer who wounds all, So is he who hires a fool Or he who hires those who pass by.

11 Ref As a dog that returns to his vomit, So is a fool who repeats his folly.

12 Ref Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 Ref The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!"

14 Ref As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.

15 Ref The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 Ref The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who answer with discretion.

17 Ref Like one who grabs a dog's ears Is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18 Ref Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 Ref Is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"

20 Ref For lack of wood a fire goes out; Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

21 Ref As coals are to hot embers, And wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindling strife.

22 Ref The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, They go down into the innermost parts.

23 Ref Like silver dross on an earthen vessel Are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

24 Ref A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, But he harbors evil in his heart.

25 Ref When his speech is charming, don't believe him; For there are seven abominations in his heart:

26 Ref His malice may be concealed by deception, But his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Ref Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

28 Ref A lying tongue hates those it hurts; And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Chapter 26 of 31

Begin Your Journey of Faith

We all start at different points in our walk with Christ. No matter where you are, we're here to support you as you grow in faith.

Accept Jesus Christ as Your Savior

If you haven’t made the decision to follow Jesus yet, we want to walk with you as you discover the new life He offers.

Read "A Truly Free Gift"

What Guides Our Walk With Christ

Discover the biblical truths and core beliefs that shape how we live, serve, and walk faithfully with Christ each day.

Explore Our Beliefs

Join a Community of Believers

Don’t walk through life alone. Find others to connect with, whether in person or online, and grow together in Christ.

Discover Where We Meet