| New American Standard Bible 1995 | NET Bible |
| 1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting 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 fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest. |
| 3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools. | 3A whip for the horse and 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. | 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him. |
| 5Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation. |
| 6He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. | 6Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool. |
| 7Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 7Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. |
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool. |
| 9Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 10Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. | 10Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by. |
| 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. | 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. |
| 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 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 sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!" |
| 14As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. | 14Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. |
| 15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. | 15The sluggard plunges 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 give a discreet answer. | 16The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation than seven people who respond with good sense. |
| 17Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. | 17Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own. |
| 18Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, | 18Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows, |
| 19So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?" | 19so is a person who deceives his neighbor, and says, "Was I not only joking?" |
| 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. | 20Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases. |
| 21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife. |
| 22The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. | 22The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person's innermost being. |
| 23Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. | 23Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. |
| 24He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart. | 24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him. |
| 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart. | 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him. |
| 26Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered 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; the one who 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 crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works 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 | NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
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