Proverbs of Solomon 26 — The Holy Bible

The Undiscerning Man

As dew in harvest and as rain in summer,

So honor is not for a man without discernment.

As birds and sparrows fly,

So a curse will not come upon anyone without a cause.

As a whip for a horse and a prod for a donkey,

So is a rod for a lawless nation.

Do not answer an undiscerning man in relation to his lack of discernment,

Lest you become like him.

But answer an undiscerning man contrary to his lack of discernment,

So he may not appear wise to himself.

He shall drink reproach at his own feet

Who sends a word through an undiscerning messenger.

Remove the motion of the legs

And a proverb from the mouth of men without discernment.

He who binds a stone in a sling

Is like one who gives glory to a man without discernment.

Thorny plants grow in the hand of a drunkard

And slavery in the hand of men without discernment.

All flesh of men without discernment grievously suffers many things,

For their illusion is brought to nothing.

As when a dog returns to his own vomit and becomes despicable,

So is a man without discernment who returns to his own evil by his own sin.

There is shame that brings on sin,

And there is shame that is glory and grace.

I saw a man who seemed to himself to be wise,

But a man without discernment has more hope than he.

The Slothful Man

A slothful man who is sent on his way says,

“There is a lion in the way.”

As a door turns upon its hinge,

So does a slothful man upon his bed.

When a slothful man hides his hand in his bosom,

He shall be unable to bring it to his mouth.

A slothful man appears wiser to himself

Than he who satisfactorily brings back a message.

The Scheming Man

As he who lays hold of a dog's tail,

So is he who is the mouthpiece of another's cause.

As those who need correction speak to others,

He who first replies to the word shall be tripped up,

So are all who set a trap for their own friends;

But when they are discovered, they say, “I did it in jest.”

A fire rages among many trees,

But where there is no disagreement, contention is at rest.

As a fireplace is for coals and wood for a fire,

So a contentious man kindles violence.

The words of a talebearer are mild

And they strike into the innermost affections.

Money given with deceit is like a sharp piece of broken pottery;

So smooth lips hide a heart that causes pain.

A weeping enemy promises everything with his lips,

But in his heart he devises deceits.

If your enemy entreats you with a loud voice,

Do not consent, for there are seven vices in his soul.

He who hides enmity contrives deceit,

But being well known in the assemblies, he exposes his own sins.

He who digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone rolls it upon himself.

A lying tongue hates the truth,

And an unguarded mouth causes confusion.