Proverbs 26 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 26 ▼
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BSB
Berean Standard Bible
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English Standard Version
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King James Version
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New International Version
NLT
New Living Translation
1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!
7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
8 Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby. Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.
15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own. Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”
20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. If 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.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.
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