New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
15 Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.
15
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
16
If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.
17
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
18
Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
19
Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.
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 enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, 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 surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
23
Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
24
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.
25
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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.