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 is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to 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 [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
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 is 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.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal 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 eyes.
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 choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
7 A lame man cannot use his legs, and similarly [SIM] [it is useless for] a foolish person to speak [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings).
Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: 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 is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth honor 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 that is come into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth 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].
A master injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
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 returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in 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.
When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for 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 saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between 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 turneth upon its hinges, so doth 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.
Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back 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 slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
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 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.
18 Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
As one fatigueth himself shooting off 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 hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
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 there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
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 charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
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 whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
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.
Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad 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].
With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
25 When they say nice things, do not believe them, because in their inner beings are many things that [Yahweh] hates.
Though he make his voice sound ever so graciously, 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].
If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
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 diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
28 Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
