New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
1
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.
2
Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
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 ass, 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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Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
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Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his 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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He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
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Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
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Like one who binds the stone in 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 that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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 he 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 his vomit is a fool that 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 a man who is wise in his own eyes? 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 sluggard 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 sluggard 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 sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
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The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men 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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He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
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Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
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is the man who deceives his 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 to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man 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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He who hates, dissembles with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
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when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
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though his hatred be covered with guile, his 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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He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back upon him 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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.