Proverbs 26 NIV NLT Parallel

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◄ Proverbs 26 ►

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

1Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

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

3Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

4Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.

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

5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison.

6Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

8Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

10An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.

11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.

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

12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

12There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.

13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!"

13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

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

14As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.

15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

15Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.

16Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.

17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

17Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death

18Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon

19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

19is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”

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

20Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

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

21A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

22Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.

23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.

23Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.

24People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.

25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.

25They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.

26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

26While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.

27If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.

28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

28A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.

New International Version (NIV)

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