Proverbs 26 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. (1Sa 12:17; Pr 17:7; Pr 19:10; Pr 26:8)

1Sa 12:17Pr 17:7Pr 19:10Pr 26:8

2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. (Nu 23:8; De 23:5; 2Sa 16:12; Ps 84:3; Pr 27:8)

Nu 23:8De 23:52Sa 16:12Ps 84:3Pr 27:8

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. (Ps 32:9; Pr 19:29) 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. (2Sa 16:11; 2Ki 18:36; Lu 23:9) 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. (Pr 28:11; Mt 16:1; Mt 21:24; Ro 12:16)

Pr 28:11Mt 16:1Mt 21:24Ro 12:16

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. (Job 15:16; Pr 13:2) 7 Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. (Pr 26:1) 9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. (Pr 23:35) 10 Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.^[1] 11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. (Ex 8:15; 2Pe 2:22) 12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Pr 28:11; Pr 29:20; Ro 12:16) 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” (Pr 22:13) 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. 15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. (Pr 19:24) 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Job 5:19; Pr 6:16; Pr 26:12; Pr 26:25)

Job 5:19Pr 6:16Pr 26:12Pr 26:25

17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. 18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death (Isa 50:11) 19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” 20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. (Pr 16:28; Pr 22:10) 21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. (Pr 15:18) 22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. (Pr 18:8; Pr 26:20) 23 Like the glaze^[2] covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. (Pr 25:4; Mt 23:27; Lu 11:39) 24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; (Ps 28:3; Pr 26:16) 26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. (Ps 7:15; Pr 28:10) 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

New International Version

from Biblica

1 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 you yourself will be just like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. 6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. 7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honour to a fool. 9 Like a thorn-bush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 10 Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. 11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. 12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. 13 A sluggard says, ‘There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!’ 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. 15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. 16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. 17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. 18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death 19 is one who deceives their neighbour and says, ‘I was only joking!’ 20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. 23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent^[1] lips with an evil heart. 24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbour deceit. 25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. 26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. 28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

New International Reader’s Version

from Biblica

1 It isn’t proper to honour 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 foolish people. 4 Don’t answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts. If you do, you yourself will be just like them. 5 Answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts. If you do not, they will be wise in their own eyes. 6 Sending a message in the hand of a foolish person is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison. 7 A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person is like disabled legs that are useless. 8 Giving honour to a foolish person is like tying a stone in a slingshot. 9 A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person is like a thorn in the hand of someone who is drunk. 10 Anyone who hires a foolish person or someone who is passing by is like a person who shoots arrows at just anybody. 11 Foolish people who do the same foolish things again are like a dog that returns to where it has thrown up. 12 Do you see a person who is wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a foolish person than for them. 13 A person who doesn’t want to work says, ‘There’s a lion in the road! There’s an angry lion wandering in the streets!’ 14 A person who doesn’t want to work turns over in bed just like a door that swings to and fro. 15 A person who doesn’t want to work leaves his hand in his plate. He acts as if he is too tired to bring his hand back up to his mouth. 16 A person who doesn’t want to work is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who give careful answers. 17 Don’t be quick to get mixed up in someone else’s fight. That’s like grabbing a stray dog by its ears. 18 Suppose a crazy person shoots flaming arrows that can kill. 19 Someone who lies to their neighbour and says, ‘I was only joking!’ is just like that crazy person. 20 If you don’t have wood, your fire goes out. If you don’t talk about others, arguing dies down. 21 Coal glows, and wood burns. And a person who argues stirs up conflict. 22 The words of anyone who talks about others are like tasty bites of food. They go deep down inside you. 23 Warm words that come from an evil heart are like a shiny coating on a clay pot. 24 Enemies use their words as a mask. They hide their evil plans in their hearts. 25 Even though what they say can be charming, don’t believe them. That’s because seven things God hates fill that person’s heart. 26 Their hatred can be hidden by lies. But their evil plans will be shown to everyone. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. If someone rolls a big stone, it will roll back on them. 28 A tongue that tells lies hates the people it hurts. And words that seem to praise you destroy you.

King James Version

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. 2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool' back. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool 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 off the feet, and drinketh damage. 7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. 14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. 17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. 18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? 20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. 27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. 28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Einheitsübersetzung 2016

from Katholisches Bibelwerk

1 Wie Schnee im Sommer und Regen zur Erntezeit, / so unpassend ist Ehre für einen Toren. 2 Wie der Spatz wegflattert und die Schwalbe davonfliegt, / so ist ein unverdienter Fluch; er trifft nicht ein. 3 Dem Pferd die Peitsche, dem Esel den Zaum, / dem Rücken der Toren den Stock. (Pr 10:13) 4 Antworte dem Toren nicht, wie es seine Dummheit verdient, / damit nicht auch du ihm gleich wirst! 5 Antworte dem Toren, wie es seine Dummheit verdient, / damit er sich nicht einbildet, ein Weiser zu sein! 6 Die Füße haut sich ab, Schaden muss leiden, / wer Botschaft sendet durch einen Toren. 7 Schlaff wie die Schenkel des Lahmen / ist ein Weisheitsspruch im Mund der Toren. 8 Den Stein bindet in der Schleuder fest, / wer einem Toren Ehre erweist. 9 Ein Dornzweig geriet in die Hand eines Betrunkenen: / ein Weisheitsspruch in den Mund der Toren. 10 Ein Schütze, der alle verwundet - / wer einen Toren anstellt oder einen, der zufällig des Weges kommt. 11 Wie ein Hund, der zurückkehrt zu dem, was er erbrochen hat, / so ist ein Tor, der seine Dummheit wiederholt. (2Pe 2:22) 12 Siehst du jemand, der sich selbst für weise hält - / mehr Hoffnung gibt es für den Toren als für ihn. 13 Der Faule sagt: Ein Löwe ist auf dem Weg, / ein Raubtier ist auf den Straßen. 14 Die Tür dreht sich in ihrer Angel / und der Faule in seinem Bett. 15 Greift der Faule mit der Hand in die Schüssel, / ist er zu träg, sie zum Mund zurückzubringen. 16 Der Faule hält sich selbst für weiser / als sieben, die angemessen antworten können. 17 Einen vorbeilaufenden Hund packt bei den Ohren, / wer sich in einen Streit mischt, der ihn nichts angeht. 18 Wie ein Verrückter, der Brandpfeile schleudert, / Pfeile und Tod, 19 so ist einer, der seinen Nächsten täuscht / und dazu sagt: Ich mach doch nur Spaß. 20 Ist kein Holz mehr da, erlischt das Feuer; / wo kein Verleumder ist, legt sich der Streit. 21 Wie Kohlen die Glut und Holz das Feuer, / so schürt ein zänkischer Mensch den Streit. 22 Die Worte des Verleumders sind wie Leckerbissen, / sie gleiten hinab in die Kammern des Leibes. (Pr 18:8) 23 Silberglasur auf Tongeschirr - / feurige Lippen und ein böses Herz. 24 Mit seinen Reden verstellt sich der Gehässige, / doch in seinem Herzen ist er voll Tücke. 25 Klingt seine Stimme auch freundlich, trau ihm nicht, / denn sieben Gräuel sind in seinem Herzen. 26 Hüllt sich sein Hass auch in Heuchelei, / seine Schlechtigkeit wird bloßgestellt in der Volksversammlung. 27 Wer eine Grube gräbt, fällt selbst hinein, / wer einen Stein hochwälzt, auf den rollt er zurück. (Ps 7:16; Sir 27:25) 28 Eine verlogene Zunge hasst, wen sie zermalmt, / ein heuchlerischer Mund verursacht den Sturz.