Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New International Version NIV
1 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
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Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
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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, and a snaffle for an ass, 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 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
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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 imagine himself to be wise.
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Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
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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 a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly 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 As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
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Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable 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 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
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Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
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As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of 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 slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
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A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
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As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn 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 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
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A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
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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 As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death.
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Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
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is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
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Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up 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 a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
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Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
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Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
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Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
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Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
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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 deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
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A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
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.