The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New International Version NIV
1 Like snow in summer or rain at harvest-time, so honor for a fool is out of place.
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Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow, an undeserved curse will come home to roost.
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Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
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A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Don't answer a fool in terms of his folly, or you will be descending to his level;
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Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
5 but answer a fool as his folly deserves, so that he won't think he is wise.
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Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Telling a message to a fool and sending him out is like cutting off one's feet and drinking violence.
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Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless; likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like one who ties his stone to the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
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Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn branch in the hand of a drunk is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 A master can make anything, but hiring a fool is like hiring some passer-by.
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Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 Just as a dog returns to his vomit, a fool repeats his folly.
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As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12 Do you see someone who thinks himself wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him!
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Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13 The lazy person says, "There's a lion in the streets! A lion is roaming loose out there!"
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A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 The door turns on its hinges, and the lazy man on his bed.
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As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish but is too tired to return it to his mouth.
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A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A lazy man is wiser in his own view than seven who can answer with sense.
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A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 Like someone who grabs a dog by the ears is a passer-by who mixes in a fight not his own.
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Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18 Like a madman shooting deadly arrows and firebrands
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Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives another, then says, "It was just a joke."
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is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 If there's no wood, the fire goes out; if nobody gossips, contention stops.
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Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As coals are to embers and wood to fire is a quarrelsome person to kindling strife.
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As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 A slanderer's words are tasty morsels; they slide right down into the belly.
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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Like silver slag overlaid on a clay pot are lips that burn [with friendship] over a hating heart.
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Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 He who hates may hide it with his speech; but inside, he harbors deceit.
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Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 He may speak pleasantly, but don't trust him; for seven abominations are in his heart.
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Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 His hatred may be concealed by deceit, but his wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.
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Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.
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Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
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A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.