26:1

כַּשֶּׁלֶג בַּקַּיִץ וְכַמָּטָר בַּקָּצִיר כֵּן לֹא־נָאוֶה לִכְסִיל כָּבוֹד׃

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour is not seemly for a fool.

¹

26:2

כַּצִּפּוֹר לָנוּד כַּדְּרוֹר לָעוּף כֵּן קִלְלַת חִנָּם לא [לוֹ] תָבֹא׃

As the wandering sparrow, as the flying swallow, So the curse that is causeless shall come home. .

¹

26:3

שׁוֹט לַסּוּס מֶתֶג לַחֲמוֹר וְשֵׁבֶט לְגֵו כְּסִילִים׃

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

¹

26:4

אַל־תַּעַן כְּסִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ פֶּן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּוֹ גַם־אָתָּה׃

Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.

²

26:5

עֲנֵה כְסִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ פֶּן־יִהְיֶה חָכָם בְּעֵינָיו׃

Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

¹

26:6

מְקַצֶּה רַגְלַיִם חָמָס שֹׁתֶה שֹׁלֵחַ דְּבָרִים בְּיַד־כְּסִיל׃

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage.

¹

26:7

דַּלְיוּ שֹׁקַיִם מִפִּסֵּחַ וּמָשָׁל בְּפִי כְסִילִים׃

The legs hang limp from the lame; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹

26:8

כִּצְרוֹר אֶבֶן בְּמַרְגֵּמָה כֵּן־נוֹתֵן לִכְסִיל כָּבוֹד׃

As a small stone in a heap of stones, So is he that giveth honour to a fool.

¹

26:9

חוֹחַ עָלָה בְיַד־שִׁכּוֹר וּמָשָׁל בְּפִי כְסִילִים׃

As a thorn that cometh into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹

26:10

רַב מְחוֹלֵל־כֹּל וְשֹׂכֵר כְּסִיל וְשֹׂכֵר עֹבְרִים׃

A master performeth all things; But he that stoppeth a fool is as one that stoppeth a flood.

¹

26:11

כְּכֶלֶב שָׁב עַל־קֵאוֹ כְּסִיל שׁוֹנֶה בְאִוַּלְתּוֹ׃

As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that repeateth his folly.

26:12

רָאִיתָ אִישׁ חָכָם בְּעֵינָיו תִּקְוָה לִכְסִיל מִמֶּנּוּ׃

Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

26:13

אָמַר עָצֵל שַׁחַל בַּדָּרֶךְ אֲרִי בֵּין הָרְחֹבוֹת׃

The sluggard saith: ‘There is a lion in the way; Yea, a lion is in the streets.’

26:14

הַדֶּלֶת תִּסּוֹב עַל־צִירָהּ וְעָצֵל עַל־מִטָּתוֹ׃

The door is turning upon its hinges, And the sluggard is still upon his bed.

26:15

טָמַן עָצֵל יָדוֹ בַּצַּלָּחַת נִלְאָה לַהֲשִׁיבָהּ אֶל־פִּיו׃

The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it back to his mouth.

¹

26:16

חָכָם עָצֵל בְּעֵינָיו מִשִּׁבְעָה מְשִׁיבֵי טָעַם׃

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men that give wise answer.

¹

26:17

מַחֲזִיק בְּאָזְנֵי־כָלֶב עֹבֵר מִתְעַבֵּר עַל־רִיב לֹּא־לוֹ׃

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife not his own, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

¹

26:18

כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶה זִקִּים חִצִּים וָמָוֶת׃

As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death;

¹

26:19

כֵּן־אִישׁ רִמָּה אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ וְאָמַר הֲ‍לֹא־מְשַׂחֵק אָנִי׃

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, And saith: ‘Am not I in sport?’

¹

26:20

בְּאֶפֶס עֵצִים תִּכְבֶּה־אֵשׁ וּבְאֵין נִרְגָּן יִשְׁתֹּק מָדוֹן׃

Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

¹

26:21

פֶּחָם לְגֶחָלִים וְעֵצִים לְאֵשׁ וְאִישׁ מדונים [מִדְיָנִים] לְחַרְחַר־רִיב׃

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

¹

26:22

דִּבְרֵי נִרְגָּן כְּמִתְלַהֲמִים וְהֵם יָרְדוּ חַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

¹

26:23

כֶּסֶף סִיגִים מְצֻפֶּה עַל־חָרֶשׂ שְׂפָתַיִם דֹּלְקִים וְלֶב־רָע׃

Burning lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

¹

26:24

בשפתו [בִּשְׂפָתָיו] יִנָּכֵר שׂוֹנֵא וּבְקִרְבּוֹ יָשִׁית מִרְמָה׃

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, But he layeth up deceit within him.

¹

26:25

כִּי־יְחַנֵּן קוֹלוֹ אַל־תַּאֲמֶן־בּוֹ כִּי שֶׁבַע תּוֹעֵבוֹת בְּלִבּוֹ׃

When he speaketh fair, Believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart.

26:26

תִּכַּסֶּה שִׂנְאָה בְּמַשָּׁאוֹן תִּגָּלֶה רָעָתוֹ בְקָהָל׃

Though his hatred be concealed with deceit, His wickedness shall be revealed before the congregation.

¹

26:27

כֹּרֶה־שַּׁחַת בָּהּ יִפֹּל וְגֹלֵל אֶבֶן אֵלָיו תָּשׁוּב׃

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

¹

26:28

לְשׁוֹן־שֶׁקֶר יִשְׂנָא דַכָּיו וּפֶה חָלָק יַעֲשֶׂה מִדְחֶה׃

A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

¹