Proverbs 26
1 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.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not suitable for a fool.
2 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).
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 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].
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 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.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like unto him.
5 If you give a foolish answer to someone who asks a foolish question, he will realize that he is (not very wise/foolish).
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 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.
He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
7 A lame man cannot use his legs, and similarly [SIM] [it is useless for] a foolish person to speak [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings).
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Tying a stone in a sling [so that it cannot be thrown at a target] is [as foolish as] [SIM] honoring a foolish person.
As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool.
9 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].
As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
10 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].
The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
11 A foolish person will foolishly do something stupid a second time; it is [like] [SIM] a dog returning to [eat] what it has vomited.
As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
12 [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.
See you a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Lazy people [just stay inside their houses and do nothing]; [they keep] saying “[I think] there is a lion in the street!”
The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 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].
As the door turns upon his hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed.
15 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.
The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 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.
He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
18 Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
So is the man that deceives his neighbour, and says, Am not I in sport?
20 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.
Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 [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.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 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.
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 People who say nice things when they are thinking about doing evil things are like a nice glaze/covering on a [cheap] clay pot.
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 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].
He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
25 When they say nice things, do not believe them, because in their inner beings are many things that [Yahweh] hates.
When he speaks fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 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].
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27 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].
Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
