Chapter 26

¹ As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not seemly for a fool. ² As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause. ³ As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so is a rod for a simple nation. ⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him. ⁵ Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit. ⁶ He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways. ⁷ As well take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools. ⁸ He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool. ^{9 1}Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools. ^{10 2}All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought. ¹¹ As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame that is glory and grace.] ¹² I have seen a man who seemed ³to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he. ¹³ A sluggard when sent on a journey says, There is a lion in the ways, and there are murderers in the streets.

¹⁴ As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed. ¹⁵ A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth. ¹⁶ A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who ⁴most satisfactorily brings back a message.

¹⁷ As he that lays hold of a dog’s tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another’s cause. ¹⁸ As those who need correction put forth fair words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown; ¹⁹ so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest. ²⁰ With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases. ²¹ A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and a

815

railing man for the tumult of strife. ²² The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite even to the inmost parts of the bowels.

²³ Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart. ²⁴ A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit. ²⁵ Though thine enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies. ²⁷ He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself. ²⁸ A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.