Proverbs 26:5-28

26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own estimation.

26:6 Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence,

so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.

26:7 Like legs that hang limp from the lame,

so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling,

so is giving honor to a fool.

26:9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard,

so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

26:10 Like an archer who wounds at random,

so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by.

26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,

so a fool repeats his folly.

26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

26:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

A lion in the streets!”

26:14 Like a door that turns on its hinges,

so a sluggard turns on his bed.

26:15 The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation

than seven people who respond with good sense.

26:17 Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears,

so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.

26:18 Like a madman who shoots

firebrands and deadly arrows,

26:19 so is a person who deceives his neighbor,

and says, “Was I not only joking?”

26:20 Where there is no wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.

26:21 Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

26:22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels;

they go down into a person’s innermost being.

26:23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

26:24 The one who hates others disguises it with his lips,

but he stores up deceit within him.

26:25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,

for there are seven abominations within him.

26:26 Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit,

his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.

26:27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it;

the one who rolls a stone – it will come back on him.

26:28 A lying tongue hates those crushed by it,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.