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 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 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 thou also be 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).
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 sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh 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 bindeth a stone 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 goeth up 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].
The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth 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 returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth 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.
Seest thou 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] saith, [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 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.
The slothful hideth [his] hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth 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 passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
As a mad [man] who casteth fire-brands, 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] deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, 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 goeth out: so where [there is] no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.
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 tale-bearer [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 hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth 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 speaketh 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 shown 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].
Whoever diggeth a pit shall fall into it: and he that rolleth 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 hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
