< Приповісті 26 >

1 Як літом той сніг, і як дощ у жнива́, — та́к не лицю́є глупце́ві пошана.
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 Як пташка літає, як ла́стівка лине, так невинне прокля́ття не спо́вниться.
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 Батіг на коня, обро́ть на осла, а різка на спи́ну глупці́в.
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 Нерозумному відповіді не дава́й за нерозум його, щоб і ти не став рівний йому.
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 Нерозумному відповідь дай за безумством його, щоб він в о́чах своїх не став мудрим.
If you give a foolish answer to someone who asks a foolish question, he will realize that he is (not very wise/foolish).
6 Хто через глупця́ посилає слова́, той ноги собі обтинає, отру́ту він п'є.
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 Як воло́чаться но́ги в кульга́вого, так у безумних уста́х припові́стка.
A lame man cannot use his legs, and similarly [SIM] [it is useless for] a foolish person to speak [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings).
8 Як прив'я́зувати камінь коштовний до пра́щі, так глупце́ві пошану давати.
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 Як те́рен, що влізе у руку, отак припові́стка в уста́х нерозумного.
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 Як стрілець, що все ра́нить, так і той, хто наймає глупця́, і наймає усяких прохо́жих.
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 Як вертається пес до своєї блюво́тини, так глупо́ту свою повторяє глупа́к.
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 Чи ти бачив люди́ну, що мудра в очах своїх? Більша надія глупце́ві, ніж їй.
[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 Лінивий говорить: „Лев на дорозі! Лев на майда́ні!“
Lazy people [just stay inside their houses and do nothing]; [they keep] saying “[I think] there is a lion in the street!”
14 Двері обе́ртаються на своєму чопі́, а лінивий — на лі́жку своїм.
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 Свою руку лінивий стромля́є до миски, — та підне́сти до рота її йому тяжко.
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 Лінивий мудріший ув очах своїх за сімох, що відповідають розумно.
Lazy people think that they are wiser than seven/several people who can answer [others’ questions] with good sense.
17 Пса за ву́ха хапає, хто, йдучи́, устрява́є до сварки чужої.
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 Як той, хто вдає божевільного, ки́дає і́скри, стрі́ли та смерть,
Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people
19 так і люди́на, що обманює друга свого та каже: „Таж це́ я жартую!“
are as foolish as those who deceive someone else and [then] say, “I was only joking.”
20 З браку дров огонь гасне, а без пліткаря́ мовкне сварка.
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 Вугі́лля для жару, а дро́ва огне́ві, а люди́на сварли́ва — щоб сварку розпа́лювати.
[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 Слова́ обмо́вника — мов ті присма́ки, й у нутро́ живота вони схо́дять.
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 Як срі́бло з жу́желицею, на горшкові накла́дене, так полу́м'яні уста, а серце лихе, —
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 устами своїми маску́ється ворог, і ховає оману в своє́му нутрі́:
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 коли він говорить лагі́дно — не вір ти йому, бо в серці його сім оги́д!
When they say nice things, do not believe them, because in their inner beings are many things that [Yahweh] hates.
26 Як нена́висть прикрита ома́ною, — її зло відкривається в зборі.
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 Хто яму копа́є, той в неї впаде́, а хто ко́тить камі́ння — на нього воно поверта́ється.
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 Брехливий язик нена́видить своїх ути́скуваних, і уста гладе́нькі до згуби прова́дять.
Those [MTY] who tell lies to others [really] hate them, and those who deceive [others] ruin them.

< Приповісті 26 >