Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.
Honoring someone stupid is as inappropriate as snow in the summer or rain during harvest.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
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 a horse, a bridle for an ass, 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 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
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 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
Trusting someone stupid to deliver a message is like cutting of your feet or drinking poison.
7 Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And 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 is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
Honoring someone stupid is as pointless as tying a stone into a sling.
9 A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And 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 Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
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 hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
Stupid people repeat their stupidity like a dog returning to its vomit.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of 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 slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
Lazy people are the ones who say, “There's a lion on the road—a lion running around the streets!”
14 The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
A lazy person turns in bed like a door turns on its hinge.
15 The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing 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 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
In their own eyes lazy people are wiser than many sensible advisors.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
Interfering in someone else's quarrel is like grabbing a stray dog by the ears.
18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
You're like a crazy person firing off blazing arrows and killing people
19 So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
if you lie to your friend and then say, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
Without wood, the fire goes out; and without gossips, arguments stop.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
22 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Smooth talking with evil intent is like a shiny lead glaze on an earthenware pot.
24 By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
People say nice things to you even though they hate you; deep down they're just lying to you.
25 When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
When people talk nicely to you, don't believe them—their minds are full of hate for you.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
Even though their hatred may be hidden by cunning tricks, their evil will be revealed to everyone.
27 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
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 hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
If you tell lies, you show you hate your victims; if you flatter people, you cause disaster.
