Proverbs 26: Fools, Sluggards, and Gossips

Proverbs 26 describes three kinds of people to avoid becoming. Honor is not fitting for a fool. As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. The sluggard says, There is a lion in the road! As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down. Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.

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Read Proverbs 26

World English Bible · 28 verses

¹ Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Proverbs 26 · Preschool

No Gossip

Name Date

Color the little campfire going out!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.”

Proverbs 26:20 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: A fire needs wood to keep burning. A fight needs mean words to keep going. When we stop saying unkind things, the fight goes out.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Proverbs 26 · Grade 4

Three Warnings

Name Date

Read and Think

Proverbs 26 begins with fools. Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Wisdom knows which response fits each moment. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Next come sluggards. The sluggard says, There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets! As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

Last come gossips and liars. For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down. The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels. Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Show What You Know

What is honor for a fool like?
What does wisdom know?
What is the sluggard too lazy to do?
What are a whisperer's words like?
What does a flattering mouth work?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

woodsnowgossipwordslion

Like in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
The sluggard says, There is a in the road!
For lack of a fire goes out.
Without , a quarrel dies down.
The of a whisperer are as dainty morsels.

Think About It

Without gossip, a quarrel dies down. What can you do when you hear gossip?
The sluggard makes excuses like a lion in the road. What excuses do you sometimes make to avoid work?

Memory Verse

“For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.”

Proverbs 26:20 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for honest words. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why is gossip so tempting to hear?
How can you start a hard task instead of putting it off?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Proverbs 26 · Grade 5

Portraits of Folly

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 26 paints three portraits. First, the fool. Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Verses 4 and 5 appear to contradict each other: Don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Together they teach that wisdom means judging each situation, not following a single rule. As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Second, the sluggard. The sluggard says, There is a lion in the road! As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion. Laziness often hides behind clever excuses.

Third, the troublemaker. Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own. For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart. Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. In the New Testament, James writes that a small fire can spread to a large forest (James 3:5).

Show What You Know

What do verses 4 and 5 teach together?
What is a fool who repeats his folly like?
What does laziness often hide behind?
What is meddling in a quarrel not your own like?
What does James say a small fire can do?

Crossword

Across

The words of a ____ are as dainty morsels
As the door turns on its ____

Down

Like ____ in summer
For lack of wood a ____ goes out
There is a ____ in the road

Think About It

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men. How can pride and laziness go together?
Meddling in a quarrel not your own is like grabbing a dog's ears. When should you stay out of someone else's argument, and when should you help?

Memory Verse

“For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.”

Proverbs 26:20 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for honest words. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you stay teachable instead of thinking you know it all?
How can you stay away from gossip?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Proverbs 26: Fools, Sluggards, and Gossips

Read Proverbs 26

Worksheets

No Gossip

Prayer

Take It Home

Kind Words

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Fire Goes Out

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Fools, Sluggards, and Gossips

Prayer

Take It Home

A Fire Goes Out

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Without Gossip

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Fools, Sluggards, and Gossips

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Three Warnings

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Portraits of Folly

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options