| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. |
| 2Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. | 2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. |
| 3A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back. | 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. |
| 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. | 4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. |
| 5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. |
| 6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. | 6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. |
| 7Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 7Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. |
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. |
| 9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. |
| 10The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. | 10Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. |
| 11As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. | 11Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. |
| 12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | 12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. |
| 13The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” | 13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” |
| 14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. | 14As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. |
| 15The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. | 15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. |
| 16The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. | 16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. |
| 17He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears. | 17Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. |
| 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, | 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death |
| 19Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” | 19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” |
| 20Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. | 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. |
| 21As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. |
| 22The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. | 22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. |
| 23Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. | 23Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. |
| 24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; | 24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; |
| 25When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; | 25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; |
| 26Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. |
| 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. | 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. |
| 28A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin. | 28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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