Proverbs 26
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
Just [like] [SIM] [it is not appropriate for] snow [to fall] in summer time, or rain [to fall] at harvest time, it is not appropriate to praise/honor foolish people.
2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
Like [SIM] birds that fly by [and do not alight/land on anything], if someone curses you, it cannot hurt you if you (do not deserve them/have not done to him what is wrong).
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
It is necessary to whip a horse and to put a bridle on a donkey [to force them to go where we want them to go], and similarly [SIM] [it is often necessary to strike] foolish people with a stick [to cause them to do what is right].
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him.
If a foolish person asks a foolish question, [do not answer him], because [if you answer his question], you are just as foolish as he is.
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
If you give a foolish answer to someone who asks a foolish question, he will realize that he is (not very wise/foolish).
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
Anyone who asks a foolish person to take a message to someone [is himself doing something as foolish as] cutting off his own feet or drinking poison.
7 [As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
A lame man cannot use his legs, and similarly [SIM] [it is useless for] a foolish person to speak [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings).
8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
Tying a stone in a sling [so that it cannot be thrown at a target] is [as foolish as] [SIM] honoring a foolish person.
9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
If a drunk person waves some thorns/brambles with his hand, [he is not able to accomplish anything useful by doing that] (OR, [he does not feel it when a thorn sticks in his hand]); similarly, if foolish people speak [MTY] proverbs, [they do not help anyone who hears them].
10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought.
A man who shoots arrows [to try] to wound everybody who is near [is foolish]; similarly, anyone who hires a foolish person [who passes by is very foolish].
11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
A foolish person will foolishly do something stupid a second time; it is [like] [SIM] a dog returning to [eat] what it has vomited.
12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
[God] can help/bless foolish people more easily than he can help/bless people who are not wise [RHQ], but think that they are wise.
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
Lazy people [just stay inside their houses and do nothing]; [they keep] saying “[I think] there is a lion in the street!”
14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
A door [continually] swings back and forth on its hinges [and does not go anywhere]; similarly [SIM], lazy people [just continually turn over] in their beds [and never do anything].
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
Some people are extremely lazy; they put their hand in a dish [to get some food] but do not [even] lift the food up to their mouths.
16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
Anyone who (meddles/involves himself) in a quarrel that does not concern him is [as foolish as] [SIM] someone who tries to grab a passing dog by its ears.
18 As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
If there is no [more] firewood [to put on the fire], the fire will go out; similarly [SIM], if there are no people who (gossip/tell people things that are not true), quarreling will end.
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
[Putting] charcoal on burning coals or [putting] wood on a fire [causes the fire to keep burning]; similarly, people who like to quarrel cause people to keep arguing.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
People [enjoy listening to what gossips say about others just like] [SIM] they enjoy tasty food; they [enjoy listening to what gossips tell them like] they enjoy swallowing tasty food.
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
People who say nice things when they are thinking about doing evil things are like a nice glaze/covering on a [cheap] clay pot.
24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
Those who hate someone and are saying [MTY] something very different from what they are thinking are hypocrites; they are only planning [to harm that person].
25 Though [thine] enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When they say nice things, do not believe them, because in their inner beings are many things that [Yahweh] hates.
26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
They try to deceive people to cause them to think that they do not hate [that person], but in a public meeting, the people will find out the evil things [that they have done].
27 He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
Those who dig a deep pit [for other people to fall into] will fall into it themselves; rocks will roll down on those who start to cause rocks to roll down [to crush someone].
28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
