Proverbs 26

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

1Snow does not belong in summer. Rain does not belong at harvest time. Honor does not belong to a fool, a person who will not learn.

2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

2A sparrow flutters past. A swallow darts by. Neither one lands. A curse that no one deserves is like that. It never lands.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

3A whip is for a horse. A bridle is for a donkey. A stick is for a fool's back.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

4Do not answer a fool in his own silly way. If you do, you will sound just like him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

5Sometimes you do need to answer a fool in his own silly way. Then he will not go on thinking he is wise.

6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

6Sending your message with a fool is like cutting off your own feet. It is like drinking something that harms you.

7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

7A lame man's legs hang down and cannot carry him. A wise saying in a fool's mouth is just as useless.

8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

8Tying a stone into a sling is silly. It cannot be thrown. Giving honor to a fool is just as silly.

9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

9A drunk man does not notice the thorn stuck in his hand. A wise saying in a fool's mouth is like that.

10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

10God is great, and he made everything. He pays back the fool. He also pays back the person who does wrong.

NoteThe old Hebrew words in this verse are unclear, so Bibles do not agree on it. Some read it as: a man who hires a fool is like an archer who shoots at anyone.

11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

11A dog goes back to its own vomit. A fool goes back to his foolish ways.

12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

12Do you know a man who thinks he is very wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

13The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is out in the street!"

14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

14A door swings back and forth on its hinges. A lazy man rolls back and forth on his bed.

15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

15The lazy man puts his hand into the food dish. Then lifting the food to his mouth feels like too much work.

NoteThe King James says the lazy man "hideth his hand in his bosom." The word means the bowl of food he is eating from.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

16The lazy man thinks he is wiser than seven people. Each of those seven can give a good, careful answer.

17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

17Grabbing a strange dog by the ears is dangerous. So is walking by and jumping into a fight that is not yours.

18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

18Think of a crazy man throwing burning sticks and arrows that kill.

19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

19That is what a man is like who tricks his neighbor. Then he says, "I was only joking!"

20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

20When the wood runs out, the fire goes out. When the gossip stops, the fight stops too. A gossip tells stories about other people.

21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

21Coals keep the fire hot. Wood keeps the fire burning. A man who loves to argue keeps a fight going.

22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

22A gossip's words hurt like wounds. They sink down deep inside a person.

23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

23Warm, friendly words can cover a mean heart. That is like a plain clay pot with a shiny silver coating.

NoteA "potsherd" is a piece of a clay pot. "Silver dross" is the cheap leftover junk from cleaning silver. So the picture is a plain pot made to look fine.

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

24A man who hates you can hide it with kind words. Inside, he is storing up lies.

25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

25When he talks in a nice way, do not believe him. His heart is full of seven evil things.

26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

26He may cover his hate with tricks. But one day the whole group will see how bad he is.

27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

27A man who digs a pit will fall into it. A man who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

28A lying tongue hates the people it hurts. A mouth full of false praise wrecks people's lives.