| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. |
| 2Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. | 2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. |
| 3A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, 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! |
| 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like 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 eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. |
| 6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. | 6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. |
| 7Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 7Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. |
| 9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb 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 who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. | 10Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby. |
| 11As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. | 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his 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 man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. |
| 13The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” | 13The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” |
| 14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. | 14As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. |
| 15The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. | 15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. |
| 16The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. | 16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. |
| 17He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes 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. |
| 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, | 18Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, |
| 19Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” | 19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” |
| 20Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. | 20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. |
| 21As charcoal is 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 like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. | 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. |
| 23Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. | 23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. |
| 24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; | 24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. |
| 25When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; | 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. |
| 26Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. |
| 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on 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 hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. |
|
