| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. |
| 2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. | 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 ass, and a rod for the fool's back. | 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! |
| 4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. | 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. |
| 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. |
| 6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. | 6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison. |
| 7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. | 7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. | 8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. |
| 9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. | 9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. | 10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. |
| 11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. | 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. |
| 12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. | 12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. |
| 13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. | 13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!" |
| 14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. | 14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. |
| 15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. | 15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. |
| 16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. | 16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. |
| 17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh 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. |
| 18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, | 18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death |
| 19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? | 19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" |
| 20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. | 20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. |
| 21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. |
| 22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. | 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
| 23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. | 23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. |
| 24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; | 24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. |
| 25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. | 25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. |
| 26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. | 26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. |
| 27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. | 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. |
| 28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. |
|
