New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
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 in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
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Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.
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 the horse, a bridle for the 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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Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
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Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
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It is like cutting off one's foot and drinking down violence, to send a message by a fool.
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 a disabled person hang limp; so does 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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It is like binding a stone in a sling to give 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 thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard 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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Like an archer who wounds everybody is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
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Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to 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 persons wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them.
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 is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
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As a door turns on its hinges, so does a lazy person in 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 a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
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The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem than seven who can answer discreetly.
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 somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.
18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
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Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,
19 is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
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so is one who deceives a neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
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For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
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As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
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The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
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Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
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An enemy dissembles in speaking while harboring deceit within;
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
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when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it, for there are seven abominations concealed within;
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
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though hatred is covered with guile, the enemy's wickedness will be exposed 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 works 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.
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.