English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time, so honor is inappropriate for a fool. |
2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. | 2Like a fluttering sparrow or a swallow in flight, a curse without cause will not alight. |
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. | 3A whip is for the horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools. |
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. | 4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will be just like him. |
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he will think himself to be wise. |
6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. | 6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. |
7Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 7Useless legs to the lame— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is. |
8Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. | 8Tying a stone to a sling— that's what giving honor to a fool is. |
9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 9A thorn in the hand of a drunkard— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is. |
10Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. | 10An archer who shoots at anyone— is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by. |
11Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. | 11A dog that returns to its vomit is like a fool who reverts to 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 opinion? There's more hope for a fool than for him. |
13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” | 13The lazy person claims, "There is a lion in the road! There's a lion in the streets!" |
14As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. | 14The door turns on its hinges— as does the lazy person on his bed. |
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. | 15The lazy person buries his hand in the dish, but he's too tired to bring it to his mouth again. |
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. | 16The lazy person is wiser in his own opinion than seven men who can give an appropriate response. |
17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. | 17Picking up a dog by the ears— that's what someone is like who meddles in another's fight. |
18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death | 18Like the maniac who shoots fiery darts and deadly arrows— |
19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” | 19that's what someone is like who lies to his neighbor and then says, "I was joking, wasn't I?" |
20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. | 20Without wood, the fire goes out. Without a gossip, contention stops. |
21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. | 21Charcoal is to hot coals as wood is to fire; so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife. |
22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. | 22The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels; they sink down deep within. |
23Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. | 23A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver— that's what smooth lips with a wicked heart are. |
24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; | 24Someone who hates hides behind his words, harboring deceit within himself. |
25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; | 25Though he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart. |
26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. | 26Though malice disguises itself with deception, its evil will be exposed publicly. |
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. | 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and the stone will come back on whoever starts it rolling. |
28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. |
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. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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