Proverbs 26 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 26 ▼
swipe to see more →
NASB
New American Standard Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. 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 a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause 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. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip is 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 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 a fool according to his foolishness, Or you will also be like him. 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 a fool as his foolishness deserves, So that he will not be 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, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool Chops off his own feet and drinks 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 Like useless legs to one who cannot walk, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools. 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 Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is one who gives honor to a fool. 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 Like a thorn that sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker, So is a proverb in the mouths 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 Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by. 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 Like a dog that returns to its vomit, So is a fool who repeats his foolishness. 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 Do you see a person 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. Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13 A lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road! A lion is in the public 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 As the door turns on its hinges, So does a lazy one on his bed. 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 A lazy one buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. 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 A lazy one is wiser in his own eyes Than seven people who can give a discreet answer. 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 Like one who takes a dog by the ears, So is one who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. 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 maniac who shoots Flaming arrows, arrows, and death, Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 So is a person who deceives his neighbor, And says, “Was I not 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 For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no gossiper, quarreling quiets down. 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 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious person to kindle 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 gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. 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 an earthenware vessel overlaid with silver impurities Are burning 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 One who hates disguises it with his lips, But he harbors deceit in his heart. 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 he speaks graciously, do not believe him, Because there are seven abominations in his heart. 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 Though his hatred covers itself with deception, His wickedness 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 One who digs a pit will fall into it, And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. 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 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a 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.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page