Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory 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 a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
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 A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
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 be made 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 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
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 sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
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 a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in 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 As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour 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 As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth 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 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
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 a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
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 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
[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 The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
Lazy people [just stay inside their houses and do nothing]; [they keep] saying “[I think] there is a lion in the street!”
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon 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 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it 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 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
17 As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
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 he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:
Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
19 So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
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 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up 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 a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
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 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
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 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth 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 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs 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 covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
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 diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
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 deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
