Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
1
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
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 sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.
3 A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
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Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
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Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.
6 He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
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It is like cutting off one's foot and drinking down violence, to send a message by a fool.
7 As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
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The legs of a disabled person hang limp; so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
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It is like binding a stone in a sling to give honor to a fool.
9 As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
9
Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
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Like an archer who wounds everybody is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
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Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
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Do you see persons wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them.
13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
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The lazy person says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
14
As a door turns on its hinges, so does a lazy person in bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
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The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
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The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem than seven who can answer discreetly.
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
Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.
18 As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death.
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Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,
19 So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
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so is one who deceives a neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"
20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
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For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
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As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
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The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
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Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
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An enemy dissembles in speaking while harboring deceit within;
25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
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when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it, for there are seven abominations concealed within;
26 He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
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though hatred is covered with guile, the enemy's wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
27
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.
28 A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.