| New American Standard Bible 1995 | King James Bible |  
 | 1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. |   
| 2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight. | 2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. |   
| 3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools. | 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. |   
| 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. | 4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. |   
| 5Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. |   
| 6He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. | 6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. |   
| 7Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. |   
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. |   
| 9Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. |   
| 10Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. | 10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. |   
| 11Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. | 11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. |   
| 12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | 12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. |   
| 13The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!" | 13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. |   
| 14As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. | 14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. |   
| 15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. | 15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. |   
| 16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer. | 16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. |   
| 17Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. | 17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. |   
| 18Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, | 18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, |   
| 19So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?" | 19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? |   
| 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. | 20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. |   
| 21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. |   
| 22The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. | 22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. |   
| 23Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. | 23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. |   
| 24He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart. | 24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; |   
| 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart. | 25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. |   
| 26Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. |   
| 27He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. | 27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. |   
| 28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin. | 28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. |  
 | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |  
  |