New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
15 With patience you can convince a ruler, and a gentle word can get through to the hard-headed.
15
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, don't eat too much, or it will make you throw up.
16
If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Don't go to your neighbor's house too often; too much of you will make him hate you.
17
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 When you lie about your neighbors, it hurts them as much as a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
18
Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Trusting unfaithful people when you are in trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking with a crippled foot.
19
Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Singing songs to someone who is sad is like taking away his coat on a cold day or pouring vinegar on soda.
20
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink.
21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
22
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 As the north wind brings rain, telling gossip brings angry looks.
23
Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 It is better to live in a corner on the roofn than inside the house with a quarreling wife.
24
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Good news from a faraway place is like a cool drink when you are tired.
25
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 A good person who gives in to evil is like a muddy spring or a dirty well.
26
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor does it bring you honor to brag about yourself.
27
It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28 Those who do not control themselves are like a city whose walls are broken down.
28
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.