Proverbs 26
ESV Parallel NIV [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
English Standard VersionNew International Version
1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting 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 darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself 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 folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison.
7Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their 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 person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!"
14As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling 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 choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
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; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works 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.New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 25
Top of Page
Top of Page