Proverbs 26
1 Honoring someone stupid is as inappropriate as snow in the summer or rain during harvest.
As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.
2 A curse that isn't deserved won't land on the person, like a fluttering sparrow or a flitting swallow.
As the sparowe by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeles, shall not come.
3 Horses need a whip, donkeys need a bridle, and stupid people need a rod on their backs!
Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a bridle, and a rod to the fooles backe.
4 Don't answer stupid people following their stupidity, or you'll become as bad as them.
Answer not a foole according to his foolishnes, least thou also be like him.
5 Answer stupid people following their stupidity, otherwise they'll think they're wise.
Answere a foole according to his foolishnes, least he be wise in his owne conceite.
6 Trusting someone stupid to deliver a message is like cutting of your feet or drinking poison.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a foole, is as he that cutteth off the feete, and drinketh iniquitie.
7 A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as useless as a lame person's legs.
As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
8 Honoring someone stupid is as pointless as tying a stone into a sling.
As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he that giueth glory to a foole.
9 A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as ridiculous as a thorn bush waved around by a drunk.
As a thorne standing vp in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
10 Anyone who hires someone stupid or just a passer-by is like an archer wounding people by shooting arrows at random.
The excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the foole and rewardeth the transgressers.
11 Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
As a dog turneth againe to his owne vomit, so a foole turneth to his foolishnes.
12 Have you seen a man who is wise in his own eyes? There's more hope for stupid people than for him!
Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceite? more hope is of a foole then of him.
13 Lazy people are the ones who say, “There's a lion on the road—a lion running around the streets!”
The slouthfull man sayth, A lyon is in the way: a lyon is in the streetes.
14 A lazy person turns in bed like a door turns on its hinge.
As the doore turneth vpon his hinges, so doeth the slouthfull man vpon his bed.
15 Lazy people put their hands in a dish, but are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
The slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and it grieueth him to put it againe to his mouth.
16 In their own eyes lazy people are wiser than many sensible advisors.
The sluggard is wiser in his owne conceite, then seuen men that can render a reason.
17 Interfering in someone else's quarrel is like grabbing a stray dog by the ears.
He that passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not vnto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the eares.
18 You're like a crazy person firing off blazing arrows and killing people
As he that faineth himselfe mad, casteth fire brands, arrowes, and mortall things,
19 if you lie to your friend and then say, “I was only joking!”
So dealeth the deceitfull man with his friend and sayth, Am not I in sport?
20 Without wood, the fire goes out; and without gossips, arguments stop.
Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.
21 An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
As ye cole maketh burning coles, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.
22 Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.
23 Smooth talking with evil intent is like a shiny lead glaze on an earthenware pot.
As siluer drosse ouerlayde vpon a potsheard, so are burning lips, and an euill heart.
24 People say nice things to you even though they hate you; deep down they're just lying to you.
He that hateth, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.
25 When people talk nicely to you, don't believe them—their minds are full of hate for you.
Though he speake fauourably, beleeue him not: for there are seuen abominations in his heart.
26 Even though their hatred may be hidden by cunning tricks, their evil will be revealed to everyone.
Hatred may be couered by deceite: but the malice thereof shall be discouered in the congregation.
27 Those who dig pits to trap others will fall in themselves, and those who start boulders rolling will be crushed themselves.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall returne vnto him.
28 If you tell lies, you show you hate your victims; if you flatter people, you cause disaster.
A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.
