Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
Honoring someone stupid is as inappropriate as snow in the summer or rain during harvest.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
A curse that isn't deserved won't land on the person, like a fluttering sparrow or a flitting swallow.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
Horses need a whip, donkeys need a bridle, and stupid people need a rod on their backs!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Don't answer stupid people following their stupidity, or you'll become as bad as them.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Answer stupid people following their stupidity, otherwise they'll think they're wise.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Trusting someone stupid to deliver a message is like cutting of your feet or drinking poison.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as useless as a lame person's legs.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Honoring someone stupid is as pointless as tying a stone into a sling.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as ridiculous as a thorn bush waved around by a drunk.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Anyone who hires someone stupid or just a passer-by is like an archer wounding people by shooting arrows at random.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Have you seen a man who is wise in his own eyes? There's more hope for stupid people than for him!
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
Lazy people are the ones who say, “There's a lion on the road—a lion running around the streets!”
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
A lazy person turns in bed like a door turns on its hinge.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Lazy people put their hands in a dish, but are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
In their own eyes lazy people are wiser than many sensible advisors.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Interfering in someone else's quarrel is like grabbing a stray dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
You're like a crazy person firing off blazing arrows and killing people
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
if you lie to your friend and then say, “I was only joking!”
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Without wood, the fire goes out; and without gossips, arguments stop.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Smooth talking with evil intent is like a shiny lead glaze on an earthenware pot.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
People say nice things to you even though they hate you; deep down they're just lying to you.
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When people talk nicely to you, don't believe them—their minds are full of hate for you.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
Even though their hatred may be hidden by cunning tricks, their evil will be revealed to everyone.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Those who dig pits to trap others will fall in themselves, and those who start boulders rolling will be crushed themselves.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
If you tell lies, you show you hate your victims; if you flatter people, you cause disaster.
