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26:1  Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] fool.
26:2  Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying, So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving].
26:3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].
26:4  Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly, Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.
26:5  Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly, Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him].
26:6  He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence].
26:7  Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].
26:8  Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw], So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.
26:9  Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].
26:10  Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by.
26:11  Like a dog that returns to his vomit Is a fool who repeats his foolishness.
26:12  Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
26:13  The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work I will be killed]!”
26:14  As the door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].
26:15  The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity]; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
26:16  The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes Than seven [sensible] men who can give a discreet answer.
26:17  Like one who grabs a dog by the ears [and is likely to be bitten] Is he who, passing by, stops to meddle with a dispute that is none of his business.
26:18  Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows, and death,
26:19  So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend) And then says, “Was I not joking?”
26:20  For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down.
26:21  Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
26:22  The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]; They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].
26:23  Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value] Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart.
26:24  He who hates, disguises it with his lips, But he stores up deceit in his heart.
26:25  When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his heart.
26:26  Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit, His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly.
26:27  Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him.
26:28  A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.