CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 26 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/26.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/proverbs/26-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Proverbs 26</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../proverbs/25.htm" title="Proverbs 25">◄</a> Proverbs 26 <a href="../proverbs/27.htm" title="Proverbs 27">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/proverbs/26.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Honor is no more associated with fools</p><p class="line2">than snow with summer or rain with harvest.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,</p><p class="line2">an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,</p><p class="line2">and a fool with a rod to his back!</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,</p><p class="line2">or you will become as foolish as they are.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,</p><p class="line2">or they will become wise in their own estimation.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Trusting a fool to convey a message</p><p class="line2">is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>A proverb in the mouth of a fool</p><p class="line2">is as useless as a paralyzed leg.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Honoring a fool</p><p class="line2">is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>A proverb in the mouth of a fool</p><p class="line2">is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>An employer who hires a fool or a bystander</p><p class="line2">is like an archer who shoots at random.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>As a dog returns to its vomit,</p><p class="line2">so a fool repeats his foolishness.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>There is more hope for fools</p><p class="line2">than for people who think they are wise.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!</p><p class="line2">Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,</p><p class="line2">so the lazy person turns over in bed.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Lazy people take food in their hand</p><p class="line2">but don’t even lift it to their mouth.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Lazy people consider themselves smarter</p><p class="line2">than seven wise counselors.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Interfering in someone else’s argument</p><p class="line2">is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Just as damaging</p><p class="line2">as a madman shooting a deadly weapon</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>is someone who lies to a friend</p><p class="line2">and then says, “I was only joking.”</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Fire goes out without wood,</p><p class="line2">and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>A quarrelsome person starts fights</p><p class="line2">as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Rumors are dainty morsels</p><p class="line2">that sink deep into one’s heart.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Smooth<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> words may hide a wicked heart,</p><p class="line2">just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,</p><p class="line2">but they’re deceiving you.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.</p><p class="line2">Their hearts are full of many evils.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a></p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,</p><p class="line2">their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>If you set a trap for others,</p><p class="line2">you will get caught in it yourself.</p><p class="line1">If you roll a boulder down on others,</p><p class="line2">it will crush you instead.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>A lying tongue hates its victims,</p><p class="line2">and flattering words cause ruin.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">26:23 </span><span class="ft">As in Greek version; Hebrew reads </span><span class="it">Burning.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">26:25 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">seven evils.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of <a href="http://www.tyndale.com">Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</a>, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../proverbs/25.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 25"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 25" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../proverbs/27.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 27"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 27" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/proverbs/26-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>