Lexham English Bible LEB
New International Version NIV
1 Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
1
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like the sparrow [is] to fluttering and like the swallow [is] to flying, so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
2
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest you become like him--even you.
4
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, or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
5
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 [Like] cutting off feet [or] drinking violence, so [is] he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
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Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 [Like] legs that hang limp from a lame person, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools.
7
Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like binding a stone in a sling, so [is] giving honor to a fool.
8
Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 [Like] a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools.
9
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 [Like] an archer who wounds everyone, so [is] he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
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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 returning to his vomit [is] a fool reverting to his folly.
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As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12 [Do] you see a man wise in his own eyes? [There is more] hope for a fool than for 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 A lazy person says "A lion [is] in the road! A lion among the streets!"
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A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 The door turns on its hinge, and a lazy person on his bed.
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As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 A lazy person buries his hands in the dish; he is [too] tired to return 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 A lazy person is wiser in his eyes than seven who answer discreetly.
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A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 Grabbing onto the ears of a dog passing by [is] one who meddles in a quarrel [that is] not his own.
17
Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18 Like a maniac who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
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Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 so [is] a man who deceives his neighbor, but says "Am I not joking?"
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is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
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Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 [As] charcoal [is] to hot embers and wood [is] to fire, so a man of quarrels [is] to kindling 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 whisperer [are] like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
22
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23 [Like] {impure silver} which overlays an earthen vessel, [so are] smooth lips and an evil heart.
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Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but {inside} he will harbor deceit.
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Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations [are] in his heart.
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Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly.
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Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit, in it he will fall, and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back.
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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 tongue of deceit hates its victim, and a flattering mouth makes ruin.
28
A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.
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.