Proverbs 26 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 26 ▼
swipe to see more →
SLT
Smith's Literal Translation
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 As snow in summer and as rain in harvest, so honor not becoming to the foolish one. 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 As the sparrow for wandering, as the swallow for flying, so the curse shall not come in vain. 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 for the horse, the curb for the ass, and the rod for the back of the foolish. 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 Thou shalt not answer the foolish according to his folly lest thou shalt be like to 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 the foolish according to his folly lest he shall 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 He drank violence, cutting off the feet, sending words by the hand of the foolish one. 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 The legs of the lame were weak, and a parable in the mouth of the foolish. 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 As a bundle of stones in a heap of stones, so he giving honor to the foolish one. 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 going up into the hand of a drunkard, a parable in the mouth of the foolish. 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 The great one piercing all, and he hired the foolish one, and those passing 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 As a dog turned back upon his vomit, the foolish one repeated in his 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 Sawest thou a man wise in his eyes? hope is for the foolish one more 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 The slothful one said, A lion in the way; a lion between the broad places. 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 A door will turn upon its hinge, and the slothful upon 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 The slothful one hid his hand in the dish; he was weary to turn it back to his 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 The slothful one is wise in his eyes more than seven turning back a reason. 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 Laying hold upon the ears of a dog, he passing by overflowing upon strife not 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 As a madman casting fiery darts, arrows and death, Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 So the man deceiving his neighbor and saying, Am I not sporting? 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 In the ceasing of wood, fire will go out: and in not being a tale-bearer, strife will subside. 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 As charcoal to burning coals and woods to fire, and a man of strifes 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 tale-bearer as dainty morsels, and they will go down to the chambers of the belly. 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 Silver dross covering over a pot-sherd, burning lips and an evil 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 He hating will be known by his lips, and he will set deceit in his midst; 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 his voice will compassionate, thou shalt not believe him, for 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 Hatred will be covered by deceit, his evil will be revealed in the convocation. 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 He digging a pit shall fall into it: and he rolling a stone it shall turn back upon 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 tongue of falsehood will hate its crushing, and a smooth mouth will make an overthrow. 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