Proverbs 26:1-8 The Message (MSG)

1. We no more give honors to foolsthan pray for snow in summer or rain during harvest.

2. You have as little to fear from an undeserved curseas from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow.

3. A whip for the racehorse, a tiller for the sailboat—and a stick for the back of fools!

4. Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool;you’ll only look foolish yourself.

5. Answer a fool in simple termsso he doesn’t get a swelled head.

6. You’re only asking for troublewhen you send a message by a fool.

7. A proverb quoted by foolsis limp as a wet noodle.

8. Putting a fool in a place of honoris like setting a mud brick on a marble column.

18-19. People who shrug off deliberate deceptions,saying, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,”Are worse than careless camperswho walk away from smoldering campfires.

24-26. Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend,all the while conniving against you.When he speaks warmly to you, don’t believe him for a minute;he’s just waiting for the chance to rip you off.No matter how cunningly he conceals his malice,eventually his evil will be exposed in public.

Proverbs 26