| Revised Standard Version w/ Apocrypha (RSVA) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
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1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
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2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
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2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
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3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
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3 A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
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4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
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4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
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5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
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5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
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6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
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6 Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
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7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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7 Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
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8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
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9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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10 Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
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10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.
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11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly.
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11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
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12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
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12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
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13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
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13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!"
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14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
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14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
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15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
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15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
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16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer discreetly.
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16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
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17 He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
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17 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
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18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
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18 Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows
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19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"
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19 is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
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20 For lack of wood the fire goes out; and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
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20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
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21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
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21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
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22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
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22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.
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23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.
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23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
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24 He who hates, dissembles with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
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24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.
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25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
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25 Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
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26 though his hatred be covered with guile, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
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26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
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27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling.
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27 If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.
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28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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| Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version w/ Apocrypha) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
