Common English Bible CEB
New International Version NIV
1 Like snow in the summer or rain at harvest, so honor isn't appropriate for a fool.
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Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a darting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so an undeserved curse never arrives.
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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 fools according to their folly, or you will become like them yourself.
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Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Answer fools according to their folly, or they will deem themselves wise.
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Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Sending messages with a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking down 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 As legs dangle from a disabled person, so does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving respect 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 thorny bush in the hand of a drunk, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds someone randomly, so is one who hires a fool or a passerby.
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Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats foolish mistakes.
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As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12 Do you see people who consider themselves wise? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
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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 A lazy person says, "There's a lion in the path! A lion in the plazas!"
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A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinge, so do lazy people in their beds.
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As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 Lazy people bury their hand into the bowl, too tired to return it to their 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 Lazy people think they are wiser than seven people who answer sensibly.
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A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 Like yanking the ears of a dog, so is one who passes by and gets involved in another person's fight.
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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 crazy person shooting deadly flaming arrows
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Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 are those who deceive their neighbor and say, "Hey, I was only joking!"
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is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossips, conflict calms down.
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Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire, quarrelsome people kindle strife.
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As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of gossips are like choice snacks; they go down to the inmost parts.
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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Smooth lips and an evil heart are like silver coating on clay.
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Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 Hateful people mislead with their lips, keeping their deception within.
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Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though they speak graciously, don't believe them, for seven horrible things are in their heart.
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Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 They may cover their hatred with trickery, but their evil will be revealed in public.
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Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Those who dig a pit will fall in it; those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them.
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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 those it crushes; a flattering mouth causes destruction.
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A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.