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 seemly 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 thou 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 sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh 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 bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth 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 goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth 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 rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth 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!
Seest thou 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] saith, [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 turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] 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 hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth 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 passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 You're like a crazy person firing off blazing arrows and killing people
As a mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 if you lie to your friend and then say, “I was only joking!”
So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Without wood, the fire goes out; and without gossips, arguments stop.
Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
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 hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth 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 speaketh 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 shewed 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 diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth 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 hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
