Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha LXX
New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not for a fool.
1
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
2
Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so a rod for a simple nation.
3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him.
4
Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself.
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
5
Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
6
It is like cutting off one's foot and drinking down violence, to send a message by a fool.
7 take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
7
The legs of a disabled person hang limp; so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
8
It is like binding a stone in a sling to give honor to a fool.
9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
9
Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought.
10
Like an archer who wounds everybody is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame glory and grace.]
11
Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly.
12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
12
Do you see persons wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them.
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
13
The lazy person says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
14
As a door turns on its hinges, so does a lazy person in bed.
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
15
The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.
16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
16
The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem than seven who can answer discreetly.
17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
17
Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.
18 As those who need correction put forth words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
18
Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
19
so is one who deceives a neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"
20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
20
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
21
As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite to the inmost parts of the bowels.
22
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
23
Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.
24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
24
An enemy dissembles in speaking while harboring deceit within;
25 Though enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
25
when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it, for there are seven abominations concealed within;
26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
26
though hatred is covered with guile, the enemy's wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
27
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.