Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
1
Like snow in summertime and rain at harvest time, so honor is not right for a fool.
2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
2
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
3
A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey, and a rod is for the backs of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
4
Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
5
Answer a fool with his own stupidity, or he will think he is wise.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
6
Whoever uses a fool to send a message cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.
7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
7
[Like] a lame person's limp legs, so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
8
Like tying a stone to a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
9
[Like] a thorn stuck in a drunk's hand, so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
10
[Like] many people who destroy everything, so is one who hires fools or drifters.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly.
11
As a dog goes back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeats his stupidity.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
12
Have you met a person who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
13
A lazy person says, "There's a ferocious lion out on the road! There's a lion loose in the streets!"
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
14
[As] a door turns on its hinges, so the lazy person turns on his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
15
A lazy person puts his fork in his food. He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer discreetly.
16
A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.
17 He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
17
[Like] grabbing a dog by the ears, [so] is a bystander who gets involved in someone else's quarrel.
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
18
Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"
19
so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out; and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
20
Without wood a fire goes out, and without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
21
[As] charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire, so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.
22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
22
The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily, and they go down into a person's innermost being.
23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.
23
[Like] a clay pot covered with cheap silver, [so] is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.
24 He who hates, dissembles with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
24
Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech, but inside he holds on to deceit.
25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
25
When he talks charmingly, do not trust him because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.
26 though his hatred be covered with guile, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
26
His hatred is deceitfully hidden, but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling.
27
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.