Berean Study Bible

English Standard Version

1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.

1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

7Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

8Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.

9Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.

10Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

11Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”

13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”

14As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.

14As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

18Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,

18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”

20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

23Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.

24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;

25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.

25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;

26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.