Proverbs 26
1 As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.
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 the sparowe by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeles, shall not come.
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 Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a bridle, and a rod to the fooles backe.
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 foole according to his foolishnes, least thou also be 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 Answere a foole according to his foolishnes, least he be wise in his owne conceite.
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 a message by the hand of a foole, is as he that cutteth off the feete, and drinketh iniquitie.
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 they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
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 the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he that giueth glory to a foole.
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 a thorne standing vp in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
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 The excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the foole and rewardeth the transgressers.
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 turneth againe to his owne vomit, so a foole turneth to his foolishnes.
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 Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceite? more hope is of a foole then 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 slouthfull man sayth, A lyon is in the way: a lyon is in the streetes.
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 doore turneth vpon his hinges, so doeth the slouthfull man vpon 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 slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and it grieueth him to put it againe 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 owne conceite, then seuen men that can render a reason.
Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
17 He that passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not vnto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the eares.
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 that faineth himselfe mad, casteth fire brands, arrowes, and mortall things,
Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
19 So dealeth the deceitfull man with his friend and sayth, Am not I in sport?
are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
20 Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.
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 ye cole maketh burning coles, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle 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 wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels 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 As siluer drosse ouerlayde vpon a potsheard, so are burning lips, and an euill heart.
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 He that hateth, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.
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 Though he speake fauourably, beleeue him not: for there are seuen abominations in his heart.
When they say nice things, do not believe them, because in their inner beings are many things that [Yahweh] hates.
26 Hatred may be couered by deceite: but the malice thereof shall be discouered in the congregation.
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 therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall returne vnto 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 false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.
Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
