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 sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not.
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 back of fools.
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 [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.
7 A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as useless as a lame person's legs.
The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Honoring someone stupid is as pointless as tying a stone into a sling.
As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, 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 that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.
10 Anyone who hires someone stupid or just a passer-by is like an archer wounding people by shooting arrows at random.
[As] an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [so is] a fool that repeateth 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 sluggard 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 its hinges, so doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Lazy people put their hands in a dish, but are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth 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] vexeth himself 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 madman 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.
For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, 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.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid 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, but he 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.
Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before the 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 shall 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 whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
