Proverbs 26:1-28 NET

[1] Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. [2] Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest. [3] A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! [4] Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him. [5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own opinion. [6] Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool. [7] Like legs dangle uselessly from the lame, so a proverb dangles in the mouth of fools. [8] Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool. [9] Like a thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, so a proverb has gone up into the mouth of a fool. [10] Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passerby. [11] Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. [12] You have seen a man wise in his own opinion-there is more hope for a fool than for him. [13] The sluggard has said, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!" [14] Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. [15] The sluggard has plunged his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. [16] The sluggard is wiser in his own opinion than seven people who respond with good sense. [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. [18] Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows, [19] so is a person who has deceived his neighbor, and said, "Was I not only joking?" [20] Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases. [21] Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife. [22] The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; and they have gone down into a person's innermost being. [23] Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. [24] The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him. [25] When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him. [26] Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly. [27] The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone-it will come back on him. [28] A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.