| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool. |
| 2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight. | 2Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere. |
| 3A whip is 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. |
| 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. | 4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness or you'll be like him yourself. |
| 5Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he'll become wise in his own eyes. |
| 6He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. | 6The one who sends a message by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. |
| 7Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp. |
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling. |
| 9Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard. |
| 10Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. | 10The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone. |
| 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. | 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. |
| 12Do you see a man 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 sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!" | 13The slacker says, "There's a lion in the road-- a lion in the public square!" |
| 14As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. | 14A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed. |
| 15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. | 15The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth. |
| 16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer. | 16In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven men who can answer sensibly. |
| 17Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. | 17A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that's not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears. |
| 18Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, | 18Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows, |
| 19So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?" | 19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" |
| 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. | 20Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. |
| 21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. |
| 22The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. | 22A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being. |
| 23Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. | 23Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel. |
| 24He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart. | 24A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within. |
| 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart. | 25When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. |
| 26Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly. |
| 27He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. | 27The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone-- it will come back on him. |
| 28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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