| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. |
| 2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. | 2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. |
| 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! | 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! |
| 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. | 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. |
| 5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. |
| 6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison. | 6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. |
| 7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. | 7Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. | 8Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. |
| 9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. | 9Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. |
| 10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. | 10Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby. |
| 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. | 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. |
| 12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. | 12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. |
| 13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!" | 13The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” |
| 14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. | 14As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. |
| 15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. | 15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. |
| 16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. | 16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. |
| 17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. | 17Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own. |
| 18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death | 18Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, |
| 19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" | 19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” |
| 20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. | 20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. |
| 21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. | 21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. |
| 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. | 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. |
| 23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. | 23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. |
| 24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. | 24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. |
| 25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. | 25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. |
| 26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. | 26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. |
| 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. | 27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. |
| 28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. |
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