| New King James Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. |
| 2Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. | 2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight. |
| 3A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back. | 3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back 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 will also be like him. |
| 5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes. |
| 6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. | 6He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends 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 the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. |
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives 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 which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. |
| 10The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. | 10Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. |
| 11As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. | 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who 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 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 sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!" |
| 14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. | 14As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. |
| 15The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. | 15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. |
| 16The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. | 16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer. |
| 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 takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. |
| 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, | 18Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, |
| 19Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” | 19So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?" |
| 20Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. | 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. |
| 21As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. |
| 22The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. | 22The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. |
| 23Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. | 23Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. |
| 24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; | 24He who hates disguises it with his lips, 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 there are seven abominations in his heart. |
| 26Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before 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, it will come 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 works ruin. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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 |
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