New Living Translation NLT
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
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 will not land on its intended victim.
2
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
3
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
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Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou.
5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
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Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Trusting a fool to convey a message 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 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
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Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
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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 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
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A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
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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 a fool repeats his foolishness.
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As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
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Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”
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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 swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.
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The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their 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 Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
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Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.
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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 Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
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As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”
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So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?'
20 Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
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Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
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Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
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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 Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
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Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.
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By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
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When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
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Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
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.
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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 its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.
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A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!