English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool.

2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.

2Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness or you'll be like him yourself.

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

5Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he'll become wise in his own eyes.

6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

6The one who sends a message by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp.

8Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.

8Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling.

9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard.

10Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

10The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone.

11Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

11As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness.

12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

12Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”

13The slacker says, "There's a lion in the road--a lion in the public square!"

14As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

14A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed.

15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

15The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!

16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

16In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven who can answer sensibly.

17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

17A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that's not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

18Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,

19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”

19so is the person who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

20Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down.

21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

21As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

22A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being.

23Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.

23Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel.

24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;

24A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within.

25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;

25When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart.

26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

27The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone--it will come back on him.

28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.