English Standard Version

King James Bible

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

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

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

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

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 ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.