New International Version NIV
New Living Translation NLT
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
1
Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
2
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
3
Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
4
Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
5
Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
6
Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
7
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
8
Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
9
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
10
An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
12
There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
13
The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
14
As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
15
Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
16
Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
17
Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.
18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
18
Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
19
is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
20
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
21
A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
22
Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
23
Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
24
People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
25
They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
26
While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
27
If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause 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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.