| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time, so honor is inappropriate for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. |
| 2Like a fluttering sparrow or a swallow in flight, a curse without cause will 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 horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools. | 3A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! |
| 4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will be just like him. | 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him. |
| 5Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he will think himself to be wise. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation. |
| 6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. | 6Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool. |
| 7Useless legs to the lame— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is. | 7Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. |
| 8Tying a stone to a sling— that's what giving honor to a fool is. | 8Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool. |
| 9A thorn in the hand of a drunkard— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is. | 9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 10An archer who shoots at anyone— is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by. | 10Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by. |
| 11A dog that returns to its vomit is like a fool who reverts to his folly. | 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. |
| 12Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion? There's 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 lazy person claims, "There is a lion in the road! There's a lion in the streets!" | 13The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!" |
| 14The door turns on its hinges— as does the lazy person on his bed. | 14Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. |
| 15The lazy person buries his hand in the dish, but he's too tired to bring 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 lazy person is wiser in his own opinion than seven men who can give an appropriate response. | 16The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation than seven people who respond with good sense. |
| 17Picking up a dog by the ears— that's what someone is like who meddles in another's fight. | 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 the maniac who shoots fiery darts and deadly arrows— | 18Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows, |
| 19that's what someone is like who lies to his neighbor and then says, "I was joking, wasn't I?" | 19so is a person who deceives his neighbor, and says, "Was I not only joking?" |
| 20Without wood, the fire goes out. Without a gossip, contention stops. | 20Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases. |
| 21Charcoal is to hot coals as wood is to fire; so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife. | 21Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife. |
| 22The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels; they sink down deep within. | 22The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person's innermost being. |
| 23A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver— that's what smooth lips with a wicked heart are. | 23Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. |
| 24Someone who hates hides behind his words, harboring deceit within himself. | 24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him. |
| 25Though he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart. | 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him. |
| 26Though malice disguises itself with deception, its evil will be exposed publicly. | 26Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly. |
| 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and the stone will come back on whoever starts it rolling. | 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 its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin. |
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