Proverbs 26

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

To honor a fool is uncommon.

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

No one can curse anyone.  If anyone curses another person, the curse will only work on the person who tried to curse someone else.

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

A rod of correction is appropriate to make a fool stop his foolishness.

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

When a fool is speaking, keep quiet.

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

You make a fool look wise in his head when you give him a response.

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

A message sent through a fool is like a man without feet and the same man has drunk poison.

To put a fool in charge of your business is a guarantee to fail.

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

Fools cannot be counted on to do anything correctly.  It will surely be unbalanced.

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

A stone in a sling without shooting it is as giving praise to someone who does not deserve it.

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

A drunk man does not realize what is happening to him if he is stuck by a thorn: so it is when a fool speaks;  he has no idea what he is saying.

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

 A fool knows what to do and won't do it and a transgressor won't stop sinning.

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

There is nothing good to be said by a fool.  If God has shown us corrections, we must not ignore them.

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

A conceited man or a man who thinks more highly than he ought is worse than a fool.

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

A lazy man makes excuses to keep from working.

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

Lazy people love to sleep.

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

A lazy man hates working.

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

Seven men who have a good reason for not completing a task are better than one lazy man.

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

Mind your own business.

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

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

A lying conniving friend is a mad man, who when caught says, I was just playing.

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

Silence stops strife.

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

A man who is cruel and angry with his words is like putting coals on a stove to keep it burning.

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

Gossip hurts.

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

A person who is eager to spread gossip is like a broken piece of pottery disguised by a covering of hope.

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

People who hate use words to divide;

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

A person who says one thing and does another is seven times worse than who they are representing.

Even if he sounds like he is easy to get along with.

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

Stay focused and do what God has assigned you to do: God will expose the imposter.

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

Anything done wrong only happens to the person who manufactured the wrong for someone else.

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

You hate a person you lie to or lie about; flattery (pretended praise) is deceit and brings a person to disaster.