| King James Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. |
| 2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. | 2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. |
| 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. | 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 thou also be like unto him. | 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. |
| 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. |
| 6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. | 6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. |
| 7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. | 7Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. | 8Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. |
| 9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. | 9Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. | 10Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby. |
| 11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. | 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. |
| 12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. | 12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? 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 slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” |
| 14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. | 14As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. |
| 15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. | 15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. |
| 16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. | 16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. |
| 17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. | 17Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own. |
| 18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, | 18Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, |
| 19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? | 19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” |
| 20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. | 20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. |
| 21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. |
| 22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. | 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. |
| 23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. | 23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. |
| 24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; | 24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. |
| 25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. | 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. |
| 26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. | 26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. |
| 27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. | 27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he 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 those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. |
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