Proverbs 26 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Similitudes and Instructions

26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.
2 Like a (C)sparrow in its [a]flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a (D)curse without cause does not come to rest.
3 A (E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (F)rod for the back of fools.
4 (G)Do not answer a fool [b]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
5 (H)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (I)wise in his own eyes.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like [c]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8 Like [d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that [e]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who (K)repeats [g]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person (L)wise in his own eyes?
(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 [h]A (N)lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road!
A lion is [i]in the public square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does a (O)lazy one on his bed.
15 A (P)lazy one buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 A lazy one is (Q)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven people who can [j]give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears,
So is one who passes by and [k]meddles with (R)strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a maniac who shoots
(S)Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 So is a person who (T)deceives his neighbor,
And says, “(U)Was I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no (V)gossiper, (W)quarreling quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a (X)contentious person to kindle strife.
22 The (Y)words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [l]innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthenware (Z)vessel overlaid with silver [m](AA)impurities
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 One who (AB)hates disguises it with his lips,
But he harbors (AC)deceit in his [n]heart.
25 When [o]he (AD)speaks graciously, do not believe him,
Because there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred (AE)covers itself with deception,
His wickedness will be (AF)revealed in the assembly.
27 One who (AG)digs a pit will fall into it,
And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates [p]those it crushes,
And a (AH)flattering mouth works ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:2 Lit wandering
  2. Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously
  3. Proverbs 26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed
  4. Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
  5. Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
  6. Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
  7. Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his
  8. Proverbs 26:13 Lit an idle, and so throughout the ch
  9. Proverbs 26:13 Lit within
  10. Proverbs 26:16 Lit return discreetly
  11. Proverbs 26:17 Lit infuriates himself
  12. Proverbs 26:22 Lit chambers of the belly
  13. Proverbs 26:23 Lit dross
  14. Proverbs 26:24 Lit inward part
  15. Proverbs 26:25 Lit his voice is gracious
  16. Proverbs 26:28 Lit its crushed ones

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 26:1 : 1 Sam 12:17
  2. Proverbs 26:1 : Prov 17:7
  3. Proverbs 26:2 : Prov 27:8; Is 16:2
  4. Proverbs 26:2 : Num 23:8; Deut 23:5; 2 Sam 16:12
  5. Proverbs 26:3 : Ps 32:9
  6. Proverbs 26:3 : Prov 10:13; 19:29
  7. Proverbs 26:4 : Prov 23:9; 29:9; Is 36:21; Matt 7:6
  8. Proverbs 26:5 : Matt 16:1-4; 21:24-27
  9. Proverbs 26:5 : Prov 3:7; 28:11; Rom 12:16
  10. Proverbs 26:11 : 2 Pet 2:22
  11. Proverbs 26:11 : Ex 8:15
  12. Proverbs 26:12 : Prov 3:7; 26:5
  13. Proverbs 26:12 : Prov 29:20
  14. Proverbs 26:13 : Prov 22:13
  15. Proverbs 26:14 : Prov 6:9
  16. Proverbs 26:15 : Prov 19:24
  17. Proverbs 26:16 : Prov 27:11
  18. Proverbs 26:17 : Prov 3:30
  19. Proverbs 26:18 : Is 50:11
  20. Proverbs 26:19 : Prov 24:28
  21. Proverbs 26:19 : Eph 5:4
  22. Proverbs 26:20 : Prov 16:28
  23. Proverbs 26:20 : Prov 22:10
  24. Proverbs 26:21 : Prov 15:18; 29:22
  25. Proverbs 26:22 : Prov 18:8
  26. Proverbs 26:23 : Matt 23:27; Luke 11:39
  27. Proverbs 26:23 : Prov 25:4
  28. Proverbs 26:24 : Ps 41:6; Prov 10:18
  29. Proverbs 26:24 : Prov 12:20
  30. Proverbs 26:25 : Ps 28:3; Prov 26:23; Jer 9:8
  31. Proverbs 26:26 : Matt 23:28
  32. Proverbs 26:26 : Luke 8:17
  33. Proverbs 26:27 : Esth 7:10; Prov 28:10
  34. Proverbs 26:28 : Prov 29:5

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Proverbs 26 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool. 2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come. 3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Le...
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Proverbs 26 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

26 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest; so glory is unseemly to a fool. (Like snow in summer, and rain at harvest; so glory is unbecoming to a fool.) 2 For as a bird flying over to high things, and as a sparrow going into uncertain; so cursing brought forth without reasonable cause shall come abo...
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Proverbs 26 - World English Bible (WEB)

26 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!4 Don’t answer a fool according to ...
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Proverbs 26 - The Voice (VOICE)

26 Like snow in the summer and rain in the time of harvest, so honor is never fitting for a fool.2 Like a bird that flits and flutters or a swallow in mid-flight, so a curse that lacks cause will never come to light.3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey, and a rod is for the fool’s b...
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Proverbs 26 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Folly of Fools26 Like snow in summer or rain at harvest,so honor is not fitting for a fool.2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow,so an undeserved curse does not land.3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,and a rod for the back of fools.4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,el...
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Proverbs 26 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.4 Answer not a fool according to his f...
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Proverbs 26 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.4 Answer not a fool according to his f...
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Proverbs 26 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool.2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.4 Do not answer fools according to their fo...
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Proverbs 26 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.(A)2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.(B)3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.(C)4 Do not answer fools according to ...
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Proverbs 26 - New Living Translation (NLT)

26 Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest. 2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. 3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back! 4 Don’t answer the...
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Proverbs 26 - New Life Version (NLV)

26 Like snow in summer and like rain at gathering time, so honor is not right for a fool. 2 Like a sparrow in its traveling, like a swallow in its flying, so bad words said against someone without reason do not come to rest. 3 A whip is for the horse, leather ropes are for the donkey, and a stick is...
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Proverbs 26 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Honor Is Not Fitting for a Fool26 As snow in summer (A)and rain in harvest,So honor is not fitting for a fool. 2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,So (B)a curse without cause shall not alight. 3 (C)A whip for the horse,A bridle for the donkey,And a rod for the fool’s back.4 Do not answe...
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Proverbs 26 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honour is not fitting for a fool.2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a 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 ...
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Proverbs 26 - New International Version (NIV)

26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D) and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)4 Do not answer a fool according to ...
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Proverbs 26 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

26 It isn’t proper to honor a foolish person. That’s like having snow in summer or rain at harvest time. 2 A curse given for no reason is like a wandering bird or a flying sparrow. It doesn’t go anywhere. 3 A whip is for a horse, and a harness is for a donkey. And a beating is for the backs of fooli...
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Proverbs 26 - New English Translation (NET)

26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,so honor[a] is not fitting for a fool.[b]2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow,so a curse without cause[c] does not come to rest.[d]3 A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey,and a rod for the backs of fools![e]4 Do not answer a fool acco...
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