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 dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honor is not [seemly] 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 birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
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].
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
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 become like 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).
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem 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 a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 A lame man cannot use his legs, and similarly [SIM] [it is useless for] a foolish person to speak [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings).
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from 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.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory 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].
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand 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].
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
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 when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
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.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Lazy people [just stay inside their houses and do nothing]; [they keep] saying “[I think] there is a lion in the street!”
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers 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 a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on 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.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
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.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
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.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, 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.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of 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 cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
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.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
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].
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 When they say nice things, do not believe them, because in their inner beings are many things that [Yahweh] hates.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent 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].
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
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].
He that digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
