Proverbs 26 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 26 ▼
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1 Like snow in summer, like rain in harvest, honor for a fool is out of place. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight, a curse uncalled-for never lands. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass, and the rod for the back 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 donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer fools according to their folly, lest you too become like them. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Answer fools according to their folly, lest they become wise in their own eyes. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Those who send messages by a fool cut off their feet; they drink down violence. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool hangs limp, like crippled legs. Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Giving honor to a fool is like entangling a stone in the sling. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 A thorn stuck in the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 An archer wounding all who pass by is anyone who hires a drunken fool. Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As dogs return to their vomit, so fools repeat their folly. Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12 You see those who are wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them. 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 person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the street, a lion in the middle of the square!” The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 The door turns on its hinges and sluggards, on their beds. As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 The sluggard buries a hand in the dish, too weary to lift it to the mouth. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 In their own eyes sluggards are wiser than seven who answer with good judgment. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 Whoever meddles in the quarrel of another is one who grabs a passing dog by the ears. Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18 Like a crazed archer scattering firebrands and deadly arrows, Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 Such are those who deceive their neighbor, and then say, “I was only joking.” is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood the fire dies out; without a talebearer strife subsides. For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 Charcoal for coals, wood for fire— such are the quarrelsome, enkindling strife. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels: they sink into one’s 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 gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Like a glazed finish on earthenware are smooth lips and a wicked heart. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 With their lips enemies pretend, but inwardly they maintain deceit; Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 When they speak graciously, do not trust them, for seven abominations are in their hearts. when he speaks graciously, 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.
26 Hatred can be concealed by pretense, but malice will be revealed in the assembly. though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit falls into it; and a stone comes back upon the one who rolls it. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28 The lying tongue is its owner’s enemy, and the flattering mouth works ruin. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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