King James Bible

New Living Translation

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

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

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 will not land on its intended victim.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

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

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

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

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

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

6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

6Trusting a fool to convey a message 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.

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

8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

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

9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

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

10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

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

11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

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

12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

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

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

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

14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

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

15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

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

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

16Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.

17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

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

18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

18Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon

19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

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

20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

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

21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

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

22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

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

23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

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

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

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

25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

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

26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

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

27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

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 hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.