Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
Honoring someone stupid is as inappropriate as snow in the summer or rain during harvest.
2 As the wandering sparrow, as the flying swallow, so the curse that is causeless shall come home.
A curse that isn't deserved won't land on the person, like a fluttering sparrow or a flitting swallow.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
Horses need a whip, donkeys need a bridle, and stupid people need a rod on their backs!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Don't answer stupid people following their stupidity, or you'll become as bad as them.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Answer stupid people following their stupidity, otherwise they'll think they're wise.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage.
Trusting someone stupid to deliver a message is like cutting of your feet or drinking poison.
7 The legs hang limp from the lame; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as useless as a lame person's legs.
8 As a small stone in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Honoring someone stupid is as pointless as tying a stone into a sling.
9 As a thorn that cometh into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
A proverb spoken by someone stupid is as ridiculous as a thorn bush waved around by a drunk.
10 A master performeth all things; but he that stoppeth a fool is as one that stoppeth a flood.
Anyone who hires someone stupid or just a passer-by is like an archer wounding people by shooting arrows at random.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is a fool that repeateth his folly.
Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Have you seen a man who is wise in his own eyes? There's more hope for stupid people than for him!
13 The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion in the way; yea, a lion is in the streets.'
Lazy people are the ones who say, “There's a lion on the road—a lion running around the streets!”
14 The door is turning upon its hinges, and the sluggard is still upon his bed.
A lazy person turns in bed like a door turns on its hinge.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth him to bring it back to his mouth.
Lazy people put their hands in a dish, but are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that give wise answer.
In their own eyes lazy people are wiser than many sensible advisors.
17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife not his own, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Interfering in someone else's quarrel is like grabbing a stray dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;
You're like a crazy person firing off blazing arrows and killing people
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith: 'Am not I in sport?'
if you lie to your friend and then say, “I was only joking!”
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
Without wood, the fire goes out; and without gossips, arguments stop.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Smooth talking with evil intent is like a shiny lead glaze on an earthenware pot.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him.
People say nice things to you even though they hate you; deep down they're just lying to you.
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
When people talk nicely to you, don't believe them—their minds are full of hate for you.
26 Though his hatred be concealed with deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the congregation.
Even though their hatred may be hidden by cunning tricks, their evil will be revealed to everyone.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Those who dig pits to trap others will fall in themselves, and those who start boulders rolling will be crushed themselves.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
If you tell lies, you show you hate your victims; if you flatter people, you cause disaster.
