| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New International Version |
| 1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. |
| 2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight. | 2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. |
| 3A whip is 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! |
| 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. | 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. |
| 5Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. |
| 6He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. | 6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison. |
| 7Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. |
| 9Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 10Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. | 10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. |
| 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. | 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. |
| 12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | 12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. |
| 13The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!" | 13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!" |
| 14As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. | 14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. |
| 15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. | 15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. |
| 16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer. | 16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. |
| 17Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. | 17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. |
| 18Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, | 18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death |
| 19So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?" | 19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" |
| 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. | 20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. |
| 21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. |
| 22The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. | 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
| 23Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. | 23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. |
| 24He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart. | 24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. |
| 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart. | 25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. |
| 26Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. |
| 27He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. | 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. |
| 28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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