Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Living Translation NLT
1 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
1
Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
2 As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
2
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
3 A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
3
Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
4
Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
5
Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
6 He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
6
Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!
7 As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
7
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
8 As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
8
Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
9 As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
9
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
10 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
10
An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
12
There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
13
The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
14
As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
15
Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
16
Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
17 As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
17
Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.
18 As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death.
18
Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
19
is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”
20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
20
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
21
A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
22 The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
22
Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
23 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
23
Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
24
People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.
25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
25
They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
26
While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
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.
28 A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.