Proverbs 26 ISV NLT Parallel

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◄ Proverbs 26 ►

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New Living Translation

1Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time, so honor is inappropriate for a fool.

1Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

2Like a fluttering sparrow or a swallow in flight, a curse without cause will not alight.

2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

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

3Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!

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

4Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.

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

5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

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

6Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

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

7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

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

8Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

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

9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

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

10An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.

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

11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.

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

12There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.

13The lazy person claims, "There is a lion in the road! There's a lion in the streets!"

13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

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

14As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.

15The lazy person buries his hand in the dish, but he's too tired to bring it to his mouth again.

15Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

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

16Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.

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

17Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

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

18Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon

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

19is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”

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

20Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

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

21A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

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

22Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.

23A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver— that's what smooth lips with a wicked heart are.

23Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

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

24People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.

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

25They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.

26Though malice disguises itself with deception, its evil will be exposed publicly.

26While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

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

27If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.

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

28A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.

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