New International Version NIV
World English Bible WEB
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
1
Like snow in summer, and as 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 fluttering sparrow, Like a darting swallow, So the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.
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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Don't answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.
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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One who sends a message by the hand of a fool Is cutting off 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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Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: So is a parable 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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As one who binds a stone in a sling, So 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 thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable 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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As an archer who wounds all, So is he who hires a fool Or he who hires those who pass by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
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As a dog that returns to his vomit, So is a fool who 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 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! A fierce lion roams the streets!"
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
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As the door turns on its hinges, So does the 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. He is too lazy 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 answer with discretion.
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 one who seizes a dog's ears Is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
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Like a madman who shoots 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, "Am I not 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; Where there is no gossip, a quarrel dies down.
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 hot embers, And wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle 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 as dainty morsels, They go down into the innermost parts.
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
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Like silver dross on an earthen vessel Are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
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A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, But he harbors evil in his heart.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
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When his speech is charming, don't believe him; 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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His malice may be concealed by deception, But 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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Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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A lying tongue hates those it hurts; 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.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.