Proverbs 26

Proverbs · Chapter 26

Proverbs 26:2

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
like the birdכַּצִּפּ֣וֹרka-tzi-PORH6833
bird

צִפּוֹר (tsip.por) 1) bird, fowl 1a) bird (singular) 1b) birds (coll) Aramaic equivalent: tse.phar (צְפַר "bird" H6853)

for flutteringלָ֭נוּדLA-nudH5110
to wander

נוּד (nud) 1) to shake, waver, wander, move to and fro, flutter, show grief, have compassion on 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to move to and fro, wander (aimlessly), take flight 1a2) to flutter 1a3) to waver, wave, shake 1a4) to show grief 1a4a) to lament, condole, show sympathy 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to wander (aimlessly) 1b2) to make a wagging, wag (with the head) 1c) (Hithpolel) 1c1) to move oneself to and fro, sway, totter 1c2) to shake oneself 1c3) to bemoan oneself

like the swallowכַּדְּר֣וֹרka-de-RORH1866
swallow

דְּרוֹר (de.ror) a swallow, bird

for flyingלָע֑וּףla-'UFH5774A
to fly

עוּף (uph) v 1) to fly, fly about, fly away 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to fly, hover 1a2) to fly away 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to fly, light upon 1c) (Polel) 1c1) to fly about or to and fro 1c2) to cause to fly to and fro, brandish 1d) (Hithpolel) to fly away 2) (Qal) to cover, be dark

soכֵּ֥ןkenH3651C
right

כֵּן (ken) adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable

a curseקִֽלְלַ֥תki-LATH7045
curse

קְלָלָה (qe.la.lah) curse, vilification, execration

without causeחִ֝נָּ֗םchi-NAMH2600
for nothing

חִנָּם (chin.nam) 1) freely, for nothing, without cause 1a) gratis, gratuitously, for nothing 1b) for no purpose, in vain 1c) gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly

it will comeתָבֹֽא׃ta-VO'H0935G
to come (in): come

בּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.