Proverbs 26 NIV ISV Parallel

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◄ Proverbs 26 ►

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1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, 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 fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

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 backs of fools!

3A whip is for the horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools.

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

4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will be just like him.

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

5Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he will think himself to be wise.

6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison.

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

7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

7Useless legs to the lame— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is.

8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

8Tying a stone to a sling— that's what giving honor to a fool is.

9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

9A thorn in the hand of a drunkard— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is.

10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

10An archer who shoots at anyone— is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.

11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.

11A dog that returns to its vomit is like a fool who reverts to his folly.

12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

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

13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming 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 a sluggard turns on his bed.

14The door turns on its hinges— as does the lazy person on his bed.

15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy 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.

16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.

16The lazy person is wiser in his own opinion than seven men who can give an appropriate response.

17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

17Picking up a dog by the ears— that's what someone is like who meddles in another's fight.

18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death

18Like the maniac who shoots fiery darts and deadly arrows—

19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

19that's what someone is like who lies to his neighbor and then says, "I was joking, wasn't I?"

20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

20Without wood, the fire goes out. Without a gossip, contention stops.

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

21Charcoal is to hot coals as wood is to fire; so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife.

22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

22The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels; they sink down deep within.

23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware 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.

24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.

24Someone who hates hides behind his words, harboring deceit within himself.

25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.

25Though he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart.

26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their 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; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.

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

28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

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

New International Version (NIV)

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