The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New King James Version NKJV
1 Like snow in summer or rain at harvest-time, so honor for a fool is out of place.
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As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow, an undeserved curse will come home to roost.
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Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.
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 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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Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like 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 eyes.
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 who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless; likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb 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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Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor 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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Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb 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 who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
11 Just as a dog returns to his vomit, a fool repeats his folly.
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As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats 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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Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for 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 lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!"
14 The door turns on its hinges, and the lazy man on his bed.
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As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on 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 lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back 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 lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.
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 who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman shooting deadly arrows and firebrands
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Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 is one who deceives another, then says, "It was just a joke."
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Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "I was only joking!"
20 If there's no wood, the fire goes out; if nobody gossips, contention stops.
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Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
21 As coals are to embers and wood to fire is a quarrelsome person to kindling strife.
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As charcoal is 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 like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.
23 Like silver slag overlaid on a clay pot are lips that burn [with friendship] over a hating heart.
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Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates may hide it with his speech; but inside, he harbors deceit.
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He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself;
25 He may speak pleasantly, but don't trust him; for seven abominations are in his heart.
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When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, 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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Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
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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Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
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A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.