Proverbs 26
1 As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to 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 [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
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 is for the horse, a bridle for the ass, 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 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal 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 eyes.
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 choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
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 Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: 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 is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth honor 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 that is come 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 A master injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
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 doth a fool repeat to act in 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 When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for 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 saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between 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 a door turneth upon its 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 Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back 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 slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
17 As is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
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 one fatigueth himself shooting off firebrands, arrows, and death:
Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
19 So is the man that hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
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 charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
[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 whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
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 Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad 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 With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
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 make his voice sound ever so graciously, 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 If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
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 will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
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 crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
