Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
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 bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless 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 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back.
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 fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto 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 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
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 fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
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 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
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 he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
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 thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
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 great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
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 returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
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 own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than 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 slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
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 door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon 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 slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again 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 own conceit than seven 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 meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
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 a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the 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 coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man 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 words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts 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 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
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 dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
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 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven 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 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole 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 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon 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 lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
