| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard 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 is inappropriate for a fool. |
| 2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. | 2Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere. |
| 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. | 4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness or you'll be like him yourself. |
| 5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he'll 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. | 6The one who sends a message by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. |
| 7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. | 7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp. |
| 8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. | 8Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling. |
| 9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. | 9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard. |
| 10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. | 10The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone. |
| 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. | 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. |
| 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, "There's a lion in the road-- a lion in the public square!" |
| 14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. | 14A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, 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 bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth. |
| 16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. | 16In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven men who can answer sensibly. |
| 17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. | 17A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that's not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears. |
| 18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death | 18Like a madman who throws flaming darts 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, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. |
| 21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. | 21As 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. | 22A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being. |
| 23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. | 23Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel. |
| 24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. | 24A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within. |
| 25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. | 25When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven abominations in 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 evil will be revealed in the assembly. |
| 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. | 27The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone-- it will come 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. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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