Proverbs 26
1 Honoring someone stupid is as inappropriate as snow in the summer or rain during harvest.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not suitable for a fool.
2 A curse that isn't deserved won't land on the person, like a fluttering sparrow or a flitting swallow.
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 Horses need a whip, donkeys need a bridle, and stupid people need a rod on their backs!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Don't answer stupid people following their stupidity, or you'll become as bad as them.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like unto him.
5 Answer stupid people following their stupidity, otherwise they'll think they're wise.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 Trusting someone stupid to deliver a message is like cutting of your feet or drinking poison.
He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
7 A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as useless as a lame person's legs.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Honoring someone stupid is as pointless as tying a stone into a sling.
As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool.
9 A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as ridiculous as a thorn bush waved around by a drunk.
As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
10 Anyone who hires someone stupid or just a passer-by is like an archer wounding people by shooting arrows at random.
The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
11 Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
12 Have you seen a man who is wise in his own eyes? There's more hope for stupid people than for him!
See you a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Lazy people are the ones who say, “There's a lion on the road—a lion running around the streets!”
The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 A lazy person turns in bed like a door turns on its hinge.
As the door turns upon his hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed.
15 Lazy people put their hands in a dish, but are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 In their own eyes lazy people are wiser than many sensible advisors.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 Interfering in someone else's quarrel is like grabbing a stray dog by the ears.
He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
18 You're like a crazy person firing off blazing arrows and killing people
As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 if you lie to your friend and then say, “I was only joking!”
So is the man that deceives his neighbour, and says, Am not I in sport?
20 Without wood, the fire goes out; and without gossips, arguments stop.
Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Smooth talking with evil intent is like a shiny lead glaze on an earthenware pot.
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 People say nice things to you even though they hate you; deep down they're just lying to you.
He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
25 When people talk nicely to you, don't believe them—their minds are full of hate for you.
When he speaks fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Even though their hatred may be hidden by cunning tricks, their evil will be revealed to everyone.
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27 Those who dig pits to trap others will fall in themselves, and those who start boulders rolling will be crushed themselves.
Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 If you tell lies, you show you hate your victims; if you flatter people, you cause disaster.
A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
