New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
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Like snow in summer or rain at harvest-time, so honor for a fool is out of place.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
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Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow, an undeserved curse will come home to roost.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
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A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
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Don't answer a fool in terms of his folly, or you will be descending to his level;
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
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but answer a fool as his folly deserves, so that he won't think he is wise.
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
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Telling a message to a fool and sending him out is like cutting off one's feet and drinking violence.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless; likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
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Like one who ties his stone to the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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Like a thorn branch in the hand of a drunk is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
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A master can make anything, but hiring a fool is like hiring some passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
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Just as a dog returns to his vomit, a fool repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
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Do you see someone who thinks himself wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him!
13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
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The lazy person says, "There's a lion in the streets! A lion is roaming loose out there!"
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
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The door turns on its hinges, and the lazy man on his bed.
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
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The lazy person buries his hand in the dish but is too tired to return it to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
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A lazy man is wiser in his own view than seven who can answer with sense.
17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
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Like someone who grabs a dog by the ears is a passer-by who mixes in a fight not his own.
18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
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Like a madman shooting deadly arrows and firebrands
19 is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
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is one who deceives another, then says, "It was just a joke."
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
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If there's no wood, the fire goes out; if nobody gossips, contention stops.
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
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As coals are to embers and wood to fire is a quarrelsome person to kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
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A slanderer's words are tasty morsels; they slide right down into the belly.
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
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Like silver slag overlaid on a clay pot are lips that burn [with friendship] over a hating heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
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He who hates may hide it with his speech; but inside, he harbors deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
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He may speak pleasantly, but don't trust him; for seven abominations are in his heart.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
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His hatred may be concealed by deceit, but his wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
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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 those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.