## Proverbs Chapter 26

###### Proverbs 26:1
[Proverbs 26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:1)

כַּשֶּׁ֤לֶג**׀** בַּקַּ֗יִץ וְכַמָּטָ֥ר בַּקָּצִ֑יר כֵּ֤ן לֹֽא־נָאוֶ֖ה לִכְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
As snow in the summer, and as rain in harvest time, so is honor unbefitting the fool.


###### Proverbs 26:2
[Proverbs 26:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:2)

כַּצִּפּ֣וֹר לָ֭נוּד כַּדְּר֣וֹר לָע֑וּף כֵּ֥ן קִֽלְלַ֥ת חִ֝נָּ֗ם (לא) [ל֣וֹ] תָבֹֽא׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Like a wandering sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse that is causeless comes home to roost.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like a wandering sparrow and a flying swallow [(which return to their nest], so a vain curse returns to him [(who utters it)].


###### Proverbs 26:3
[Proverbs 26:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:3)

שׁ֣וֹט לַ֭סּוּס מֶ֣תֶג לַחֲמ֑וֹר וְ֝שֵׁ֗בֶט לְגֵ֣ו כְּסִילִֽים׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A whip [is readied] for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.


###### Proverbs 26:4
[Proverbs 26:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:4)

אַל־תַּ֣עַן כְּ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּֽן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּ֥וֹ גַם־אָֽתָּה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him thyself.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Answer not a fool according to his folly [i.e., cantankerously], lest you, too, be likened to him.


###### Proverbs 26:5
[Proverbs 26:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:5)

עֲנֵ֣ה כְ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּן־יִהְיֶ֖ה חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָֽיו׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Answer a fool according to his folly [i.e., if he entices you to idolatry], lest [(if you do not answer him)] he be wise in his eyes [(assuming that you have no answer)].


###### Proverbs 26:6
[Proverbs 26:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:6)

מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה שֹׁלֵ֖חַ דְּבָרִ֣ים בְּיַד־כְּסִֽיל׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet, and drinks in damage.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
He wears out the feet [of many messengers (whom he must send to amend the mistakes of the first)] and he drinks rancor [(the wrath of the object of his embassy)] — one who sends things with a fool.


###### Proverbs 26:7
[Proverbs 26:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:7)

דַּלְי֣וּ שֹׁ֭קַיִם מִפִּסֵּ֑חַ וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Like the legs of a lame man which hang useless, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
"The thighs [(of other men)] are 'raised' to the lame" — [this is] a parable in the mouth of fools [(who use it as an excuse not to acquire wisdom, claiming it to be "higher" than they are.)]


###### Proverbs 26:8
[Proverbs 26:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:8)

כִּצְר֣וֹר אֶ֭בֶן בְּמַרְגֵּמָ֑ה כֵּן־נוֹתֵ֖ן לִכְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like binding a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool [i.e., both are destined to be cast away].


###### Proverbs 26:9
[Proverbs 26:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:9)

ח֭וֹחַ עָלָ֣ה בְיַד־שִׁכּ֑וֹר וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like a thorn in the hand of a drunkard [(which is destined to prick him)], so is [the following] parable in the mouth of fools:


###### Proverbs 26:10
[Proverbs 26:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:10)

רַ֥ב מְחוֹלֵֽל־כֹּ֑ל וְשֹׂכֵ֥ר כְּ֝סִ֗יל וְשֹׂכֵ֥ר עֹבְרִֽים׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A master craftsman performs everything; but he who hires a fool is as he who hires the passersby.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
"The Master created all, and [for His work] He hires [also] the fool and He hires 'wayfarers'" [i.e., idlers — and He feeds them all. Why work then!]


###### Proverbs 26:11
[Proverbs 26:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:11)

כְּ֭כֶלֶב שָׁ֣ב עַל־קֵא֑וֹ כְּ֝סִ֗יל שׁוֹנֶ֥ה בְאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
As a dog returns [to eat] what he has vomited, a fool repeats his foolishness.


###### Proverbs 26:12
[Proverbs 26:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:12)

רָאִ֗יתָ אִ֭ישׁ חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָ֑יו תִּקְוָ֖ה לִכְסִ֣יל מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Have you seen a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for one who is a fool [in his own eyes] than for him.


###### Proverbs 26:13
[Proverbs 26:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:13)

אָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל שַׁ֣חַל בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ אֲ֝רִ֗י בֵּ֣ין הָרְחֹבֽוֹת׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The lazy man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The lazy one says: "There is a lion on the path, a lion between the streets."


###### Proverbs 26:14
[Proverbs 26:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:14)

הַ֭דֶּלֶת תִּסּ֣וֹב עַל־צִירָ֑הּ וְ֝עָצֵ֗ל עַל־מִטָּתֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As the doors turns on its hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The door turns on its hinges, and the lazy one on his bed.


###### Proverbs 26:15
[Proverbs 26:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:15)

טָ֘מַ֤ן עָצֵ֣ל יָ֭דוֹ בַּצַּלָּ֑חַת נִ֝לְאָ֗ה לַהֲשִׁיבָ֥הּ אֶל־פִּֽיו׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it grieves him to bring it back to his mouth.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The lazy man hides his hand in the [hot] kettle [(to warm it)] — he is too weary to return it to his mouth!


###### Proverbs 26:16
[Proverbs 26:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:16)

חָכָ֣ם עָצֵ֣ל בְּעֵינָ֑יו מִ֝שִּׁבְעָ֗ה מְשִׁ֣יבֵי טָֽעַם׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that can give sensible reasons.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The lazy one is wiser in his own eyes than seven wise answerers.


###### Proverbs 26:17
[Proverbs 26:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:17)

מַחֲזִ֥יק בְּאׇזְנֵי־כָ֑לֶב עֹבֵ֥ר מִ֝תְעַבֵּ֗ר עַל־רִ֥יב לֹּא־לֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He who passes by, and meddles with a strife not his own, is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
As one who seizes a dog's ears is he who grows wrathful over a dispute that is not his [(i.e., he will be "bitten")].


###### Proverbs 26:18
[Proverbs 26:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:18)

כְּֽ֭מִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶ֥ה זִקִּ֗ים חִצִּ֥ים וָמָֽוֶת׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
As one who tires of throwing fire-brands [throws] arrows and death,


###### Proverbs 26:19
[Proverbs 26:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:19)

כֵּֽן־אִ֭ישׁ רִמָּ֣ה אֶת־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝אָמַ֗ר הֲֽלֹא־מְשַׂחֵ֥ק אָֽנִי׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
so is a man who tricks his neighbour, and says, But I was only joking!

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
(So) is one who deceives his neighbor [(enticing him from the paths of life to the paths of death)], and who says [(when the other becomes aware of the deception)], "I was only joking."


###### Proverbs 26:20
[Proverbs 26:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:20)

בְּאֶ֣פֶס עֵ֭צִים תִּכְבֶּה־אֵ֑שׁ וּבְאֵ֥ין נִ֝רְגָּ֗ן יִשְׁתֹּ֥ק מָדֽוֹן׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Without wood the fire goes out, and without the spouter [of slander] the strife is silenced.


###### Proverbs 26:21
[Proverbs 26:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:21)

פֶּחָ֣ם לְ֭גֶחָלִים וְעֵצִ֣ים לְאֵ֑שׁ וְאִ֥ישׁ (מדונים) [מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים] לְחַרְחַר־רִֽיב׃{פ}

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
As charcoal to [ignite] coal and wood to [fuel] a fire, so, the contentious man to stirring up strife.


###### Proverbs 26:22
[Proverbs 26:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:22)

דִּבְרֵ֣י נִ֭רְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑ים וְ֝הֵ֗ם יָרְד֥וּ חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The words of a talebearer are like dainties, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The words of the spouter [of slander] are like blows and they enter one's innards [(causing dropsy)].


###### Proverbs 26:23
[Proverbs 26:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:23)

כֶּ֣סֶף סִ֭יגִים מְצֻפֶּ֣ה עַל־חָ֑רֶשׂ שְׂפָתַ֖יִם דֹּלְקִ֣ים וְלֶב־רָֽע׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like an earthenware dish covered with silver dross.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like silver dross plating earthenware are lips running [(to entice men with all kinds of blandishments)] and a bad heart [beneath].


###### Proverbs 26:24
[Proverbs 26:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:24)

בִּ֭שְׂפָתָו יִנָּכֵ֣ר שׂוֹנֵ֑א וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ יָשִׁ֥ית מִרְמָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He who hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
With his lips the foe will seem "estranged" [(from hatred)], but within him he will plot guile.


###### Proverbs 26:25
[Proverbs 26:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:25)

כִּֽי־יְחַנֵּ֣ן ק֭וֹלוֹ אַל־תַּאֲמֶן־בּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י שֶׁ֖בַע תּוֹעֵב֣וֹת בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
when he speaks fair, do not believe him: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Though his voice be ingratiating, do not trust to it, for there are seven abominations in his heart.


###### Proverbs 26:26
[Proverbs 26:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:26)

תִּכַּסֶּ֣ה שִׂ֭נְאָה בְּמַשָּׁא֑וֹן תִּגָּלֶ֖ה רָעָת֣וֹ בְקָהָֽל׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the whole congregation.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Though [a deed] that is hateful [to the L-rd] be covered in darkness, his [(the perpetrator's)] evil will be revealed among the multitude.


###### Proverbs 26:27
[Proverbs 26:27](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:27)

כֹּֽרֶה־שַּׁ֭חַת בָּ֣הּ יִפּ֑וֹל וְג֥וֹלֵֽל אֶ֝֗בֶן אֵלָ֥יו תָּשֽׁוּב׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The one who digs a pit shall fall into it: and if one rolls a stone, it will return upon him.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
He who digs a pit will fall in it, and he who rolls a stone [against others] will have it turn back on him.


###### Proverbs 26:28
[Proverbs 26:28](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/26:28)

לְֽשׁוֹן־שֶׁ֭קֶר יִשְׂנָ֣א דַכָּ֑יו וּפֶ֥ה חָ֝לָ֗ק יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה מִדְחֶֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A lying tongue hates its victims; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[One who accepts] false speech [i.e., slander] hates his subjects [(Saul accepted slander against David and killed out Nov [his subjects, who assisted David])]; and the smooth [-talking] mouth causes rejection [by the L-rd of the victims of its enticements].