Proverbios 26
1 No conviene la nieve en el verano Ni la lluvia en la cosecha, Ni la honra al necio.
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.
2 Como pájaro que aletea y golondrina que vuela, Así la maldición sin causa no se cumple.
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).
3 El látigo para el caballo, el cabestro para el asno Y la vara para la espalda del necio.
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].
4 No respondas al necio según su necedad, Para que no seas tú como él.
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.
5 Responde al necio como merece su necedad, Para que él no se estime sabio.
If you give a foolish answer to someone who asks a foolish question, he will realize that he is (not very wise/foolish).
6 El que envía mensaje por medio de un necio Corta sus pies y bebe violencia.
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.
7 Al lisiado le cuelgan las piernas inútiles. Así es el proverbio en la boca del necio.
A lame man cannot use his legs, and similarly [SIM] [it is useless for] a foolish person to speak [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings).
8 Como sujetar una piedra en la honda, Así es el que da honores al necio.
Tying a stone in a sling [so that it cannot be thrown at a target] is [as foolish as] [SIM] honoring a foolish person.
9 Como espina que cae en la mano de un borracho, Así es el proverbio en boca de los necios.
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].
10 Como arquero que dispara contra cualquiera, Es el que contrata a insensatos y vagabundos.
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].
11 Como perro que vuelve a su vómito, Así el necio repite su insensatez.
A foolish person will foolishly do something stupid a second time; it is [like] [SIM] a dog returning to [eat] what it has vomited.
12 ¿Has visto a alguien sabio en su propia opinión? Más se puede esperar de un necio que de él.
[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.
13 Dice el perezoso: El león está en el camino, Hay un león en la plaza.
Lazy people [just stay inside their houses and do nothing]; [they keep] saying “[I think] there is a lion in the street!”
14 Como la puerta gira sobre sus bisagras, Así también el perezoso en su cama.
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].
15 El perezoso mete su mano en el plato, Y le repugna aun llevar la comida a su boca.
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.
16 El perezoso se cree más sabio Que siete hombres que responden con discreción.
Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
17 El que se mete en pleito ajeno Es como el que agarra un perro por las orejas.
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.
18 Como el loco furioso que lanza dardos encendidos y flechas mortales,
Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
19 Así es el que engaña a su prójimo Y luego dice: Solo era una broma.
are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
20 Sin leña se apaga el fuego, Y donde no hay chismoso, cesa la contienda.
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.
21 El carbón para las brasas y la leña para el fuego, Y el pendenciero para encender la contienda.
[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.
22 Las palabras del chismoso son manjares, Que bajan hasta lo más recóndito del ser.
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.
23 Como escoria de plata echada sobre un tiesto Son los labios enardecidos y el corazón perverso.
People who say nice things when they are thinking about doing evil things are like a nice glaze/covering on a [cheap] clay pot.
24 Disimula con sus labios el que odia, Pero en su interior trama el engaño.
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].
25 Aunque hable amigablemente, no le creas, Porque siete repugnancias hay en su corazón.
When they say nice things, do not believe them, because in their inner beings are many things that [Yahweh] hates.
26 Aunque con disimulo encubra su odio, Su perversidad será descubierta en la congregación.
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].
27 El que cave una fosa, caerá en ella, Y al que ruede una piedra, le caerá encima.
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].
28 La lengua mentirosa odia a los que aflige, Y la boca lisonjera causa ruina.
Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
