Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
5
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
6
Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
7
Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
8
Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
9
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
10
Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly.
11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
12
Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
13
A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
14
As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
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.
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.