The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 We no more give honors to fools than pray for snow in summer or rain during harvest.
1
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow.
2
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 A whip for the racehorse, a tiller for the sailboat - and a stick for the back of fools!
3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself.
4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn't get a swelled head.
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Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 You're only asking for trouble when you send a message by a fool.
6
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7 A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle.
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The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.
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As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 To ask a moron to quote a proverb is like putting a scalpel in the hands of a drunk.
9
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Hire a fool or a drunk and you shoot yourself in the foot.
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The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 As a dog eats its own vomit, so fools recycle silliness.
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As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12 See that man who thinks he's so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from 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 Loafers say, "It's dangerous out there! Tigers are prowling the streets!" and then pull the covers back over their heads.
13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 Just as a door turns on its hinges, so a lazybones turns back over in bed.
14
As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie, but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth. Like Glaze on Cracked Pottery
15
The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Dreamers fantasize their self-importance; they think they are smarter than a whole college faculty.
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The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 You grab a mad dog by the ears when you butt into a quarrel that's none of your business.
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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 People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, "I didn't mean it, I was only joking,"
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As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires.
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So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 When you run out of wood, the fire goes out; when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.
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Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 A quarrelsome person in a dispute is like kerosene thrown on a fire.
21
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you want junk like that in your belly?
22
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Smooth talk from an evil heart is like glaze on cracked pottery.
23
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend, all the while conniving against you.
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He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 When he speaks warmly to you, don't believe him for a minute; he's just waiting for the chance to rip you off.
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When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 No matter how cunningly he conceals his malice, eventually his evil will be exposed in public.
26
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27 Malice backfires; spite boomerangs.
27
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 Liars hate their victims; flatterers sabotage trust.
28
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.