The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
King James Version KJV
1 Like snow in summer or rain at harvest-time, so honor for a fool is out of place.
1
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow, an undeserved curse will come home to roost.
2
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
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 ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Don't answer a fool in terms of his folly, or you will be descending to his level;
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Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 but answer a fool as his folly deserves, so that he won't think he is wise.
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Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 Telling a message to a fool and sending him out is like cutting off one's feet and drinking violence.
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He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7 The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless; likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who ties his stone to the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
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As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Like a thorn branch in the hand of a drunk is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 A master can make anything, but hiring a fool is like hiring some passer-by.
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The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 Just as a dog returns to his vomit, a fool repeats his folly.
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As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12 Do you see someone who thinks himself wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him!
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Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The lazy person says, "There's a lion in the streets! A lion is roaming loose out there!"
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The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 The door turns on its hinges, and the lazy man on his bed.
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As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish but is too tired to return it to his mouth.
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The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 A lazy man is wiser in his own view than seven who can answer with sense.
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The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 Like someone who grabs a dog by the ears is a passer-by who mixes in a fight not his own.
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He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman shooting deadly arrows and firebrands
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As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 is one who deceives another, then says, "It was just a joke."
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So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 If there's no wood, the fire goes out; if nobody gossips, contention stops.
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Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 As coals are to embers and wood to fire is a quarrelsome person to kindling strife.
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As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 A slanderer's words are tasty morsels; they slide right down into the belly.
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The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Like silver slag overlaid on a clay pot are lips that burn [with friendship] over a hating heart.
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Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates may hide it with his speech; but inside, he harbors deceit.
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He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 He may speak pleasantly, but don't trust him; for seven abominations are in his heart.
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When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 His hatred may be concealed by deceit, but his wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.
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Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.
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Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
28
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The King James Version is in the public domain.