Proverbs 26 — TOJB

26Verse 1As sheleg (snow) in kayitz (summer), and as matar (rain) at katzir (harvest),
so kavod is not fitting for a kesil (fool).
^{Verse 2}As the tzippor in its fluttering, as the swallow in its flying,
so the kelelah (curse) without cause shall not alight.
^{Verse 3}A shot (whip) for the sus, a bridle for the chamor,
and a shevet for the back of kesilim.
^{Verse 4}Answer not a kesil (fool) according to his folly,
lest thou also be like unto him.
^{Verse 5}Answer a kesil (fool) according to his folly,
lest he be chacham in his own eyes.
^{Verse 6}He that sendeth a message by the yad of a kesil (fool)
cutteth off the raglayim, and drinketh chamas.
^{Verse 7}The legs of the pisei'ach (lame man) hang limp;
so is a mashal in the peh (mouth) of kesilim.
^{Verse 8}As he that bindeth an even (stone) in a sling,
so is he that giveth kavod to a kesil (fool).
^{Verse 9}As a thornbush goeth up into the yad of a shikkor,
so is a mashal in the peh (mouth) of kesilim.
^{Verse 10}Like an archer wounding all,
so is he that hireth the kesil (fool), or hireth the passerby.
^{Verse 11}As a kelev returneth to his vomit,
so a kesil (fool) returneth to his folly.
^{Verse 12}Seest thou an ish chacham in his own eyes?
There is more tikvah (hope) for a kesil (fool) than for him.
^{Verse 13}The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) saith, There is a lion in the derech;
an ari is in the rechovot.
^{Verse 14}As the delet (door) turneth upon its hinges,
so doth the atzel (sluggard, lazy one) upon his mittah (bed).
^{Verse 15}The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) hideth his yad in his dish;
itʼs too tiring to bring it back to his peh (mouth) again.
^{Verse 16}The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) is chacham in his own eyes,
more than seven that give an excellent answer.
^{Verse 17}He that passeth by, and meddleth in a quarrel that doth not belong to him,
is like one that taketh a kelev by the oznayim.
^{Verse 18}As a mad man who shooteth
firebrands, khitzim (arrows), and mavet,
^{Verse 19}So is the ish that deceiveth his re'a,
and saith, Am I not just having a laugh?
^{Verse 20}Where no wood is, there the eish goeth out;
so where there is no nirgan (gossip, slanderer, talebearer), the strife dieth down.
^{Verse 21}As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to eish;
so is a contentious ish to kindle strife.
^{Verse 22}The devarim of a nirgan (gossip, slanderer, talebearer) are like tasty morsels,
and they go down into the innermost chambers of the beten.
^{Verse 23}Fervent sfatayim (lips) and a lev rah
are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
^{Verse 24}He that hateth disguises it with his sfatayim (lips),
and within harboreth mirmah (deceit);
^{Verse 25}When he speaketh fair, believe him not;
for there are sheva to'avot in his lev.
^{Verse 26}Whose hatred is covered by guile,
yet his wickedness shall be exposed before the whole kahal.
^{Verse 27}He who diggeth a shachat (pit) shall fall therein,
and he that rolleth an even (stone),
it will roll back upon him.
^{Verse 28}A lashon sheker hateth those that are crushed by it;
and a flattering peh (mouth) worketh ruin.