Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Honoring someone stupid is as inappropriate as snow in the summer or rain during harvest.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.
A curse that isn't deserved won't land on the person, like a fluttering sparrow or a flitting swallow.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, 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 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like 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 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
Trusting someone stupid to deliver a message is like cutting of your feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: 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 one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Honoring someone stupid is as pointless as tying a stone into a sling.
9 Like a thornbush that goes 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 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
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 returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for 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 says, "There is a lion in the road. A fierce lion roams the streets."
Lazy people are the ones who say, “There's a lion on the road—a lion running around the streets!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
A lazy person turns in bed like a door turns on its hinge.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy 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 who answer with discretion.
In their own eyes lazy people are wiser than many sensible advisors.
17 Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Interfering in someone else's quarrel is like grabbing a stray dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
You're like a crazy person firing off blazing arrows and killing people
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"
if you lie to your friend and then say, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, contention ceases.
Without wood, the fire goes out; and without gossips, arguments stop.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
22 The words of a gossip are as tasty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
Smooth talking with evil intent is like a shiny lead glaze on an earthenware pot.
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
People say nice things to you even though they hate you; deep down they're just lying to you.
25 When his speech is charming, do not believe him; 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 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Even though their hatred may be hidden by cunning tricks, their evil will be revealed to everyone.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on 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 hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
If you tell lies, you show you hate your victims; if you flatter people, you cause disaster.
