New International Version NIV
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
1
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
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As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
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 is for a horse, a bridle for an 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 thou be like to him -- even thou.
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 is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of 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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Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And 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 is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour 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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A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And 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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Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
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As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating 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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Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
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The slothful hath said, `A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
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The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful 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 slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
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Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
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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Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
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As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
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So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?'
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
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Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
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Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions 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 tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
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Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
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By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
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When his voice is gracious trust not in 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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Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an 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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Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
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.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.