Proverbios 26
1 Como la nieve en el verano, y la lluvia en la segada, así conviene al insensato la honra.
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 el gorrión andar vagabundo, y como la golondrina volar, así la maldición sin causa nunca vendrá.
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 azote para el caballo, y el cabestro para el asno, y la vara para el cuerpo del insensato.
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 Nunca respondas al insensato conforme a su fatuidad, porque no seas como él también tú.
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 insensato conforme a su fatuidad, porque no se estime sabio en su opinión.
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 corta los pies, beberá el daño; y el que envía algo por la mano del insensato.
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 Alzád las piernas del cojo: así es el proverbio en la boca del insensato.
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 quien liga la piedra en la honda, así es el que da honra al insensato.
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 Espinas hincadas en mano de embriagado: tal es el proverbio en la boca de los insensatos.
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 El Grande cria todas las cosas; y al insensato da la paga, y a los transgresores da el salario.
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 insensato que segunda su fatuidad.
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 hombre sabio en su opinión? más esperanza hay del insensato 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: el león está en las calles.
Lazy people [just stay inside their houses and do nothing]; [they keep] saying “[I think] there is a lion in the street!”
14 Las puertas se revuelven en su quicio, y 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 Esconde el perezoso su mano en el seno: cánsase de tornarla 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 Más sabio es el perezoso en su opinión, que siete que le den consejo.
Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
17 El que pasando se enoja en el pleito ajeno, es como el que toma al 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 que enloquece, y echa llamas, y saetas, y muerte,
Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
19 Tal es el hombre que daña a su amigo, y dice: Cierto, burlaba.
are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
20 Sin leña, el fuego se apagará; y donde no hubiere chismoso, cesará 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 brasas; y la leña para el fuego; y el hombre rencilloso para encender 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 parecen blandas: mas ellas entran hasta lo secreto del vientre.
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 Plata de escorias echada sobre tiesto son los labios encendidos, y el corazón malo.
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 Otro parece en los labios el que aborrece: mas en su interior pone 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 Cuando hablare amigablemente, no le creas; porque siete abominaciones están en su corazón.
When they say nice things, do not believe them, because in their inner beings are many things that [Yahweh] hates.
26 Encúbrese el odio en el desierto: mas su malicia 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 cavare sima, en ella caerá; y el que revuelve la piedra, a él volverá.
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 falsa lengua al que atormenta aborrece; y la boca lisonjera hace resbaladero.
Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.
