Proverbs 26
HCSB Parallel NIV [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
Holman Christian Standard BibleNew International Version
1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool. 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere. 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 backs of fools. 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness or you'll 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 foolishness or he'll become wise in his own eyes. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6The one who sends a message by a fool's hand 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.
7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp. 7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling. 8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard. 9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone. 10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. 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 slacker says, "There's a lion in the road-- a lion in the public square!" 13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!"
14A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed. 14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth. 15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven men who can answer sensibly. 16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
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. 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 flaming darts and deadly arrows, 18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" 19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
20Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. 20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21As charcoal for embers and wood for 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.
22A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being. 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel. 23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within. 24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, 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 is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly. 26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone-- it will come back on him. 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. 28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.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