| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. |
| 2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. | 2Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause 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 and 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, lest you yourself also 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 be wise in his own estimation. |
| 6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. | 6Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending 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 legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. |
| 8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. | 8Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving 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 goes into the hand of a drunkard, so 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, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by. |
| 11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. | 11Like a dog that 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 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 sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!" |
| 14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. | 14Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. |
| 15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. | 15The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. |
| 16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. | 16The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation than seven people who respond with good sense. |
| 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 wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own. |
| 18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, | 18Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows, |
| 19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? | 19so is a person who deceives his neighbor, and says, "Was I not only joking?" |
| 20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. | 20Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases. |
| 21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle 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 delicious morsels; they go down into a person's innermost being. |
| 23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. | 23Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. |
| 24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; | 24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him. |
| 25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. | 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him. |
| 26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. | 26Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly. |
| 27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. | 27The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone--it will come back on him. |
| 28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin. |
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