| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time, so honor is inappropriate for a fool. |
| 2Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. | 2Like a fluttering sparrow or a swallow in flight, a curse without cause will not alight. |
| 3A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back. | 3A whip is for the horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools. |
| 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. | 4Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will be just like him. |
| 5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he will think himself to be wise. |
| 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. | 7Useless legs to the lame— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is. |
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8Tying a stone to a sling— that's what giving honor to a fool is. |
| 9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 9A thorn in the hand of a drunkard— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is. |
| 10The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. | 10An archer who shoots at anyone— is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by. |
| 11As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. | 11A dog that returns to its vomit is like a fool who reverts to 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 opinion? There's 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 lazy person claims, "There is a lion in the road! There's a lion in the streets!" |
| 14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. | 14The door turns on its hinges— as does the lazy person on his bed. |
| 15The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. | 15The lazy person buries his hand in the dish, but he's too tired to bring it to his mouth again. |
| 16The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. | 16The lazy person is wiser in his own opinion than seven men who can give an appropriate response. |
| 17He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears. | 17Picking up a dog by the ears— that's what someone is like who meddles in another's fight. |
| 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, | 18Like the maniac who shoots fiery darts and deadly arrows— |
| 19Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” | 19that's what someone is like who lies to his neighbor and then says, "I was joking, wasn't I?" |
| 20Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. | 20Without wood, the fire goes out. Without a gossip, contention stops. |
| 21As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21Charcoal is to hot coals as wood is to fire; so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife. |
| 22The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. | 22The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels; they sink down deep within. |
| 23Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. | 23A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver— that's what smooth lips with a wicked heart are. |
| 24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; | 24Someone who hates hides behind his words, harboring deceit within himself. |
| 25When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; | 25Though he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart. |
| 26Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26Though malice disguises itself with deception, its evil will be exposed publicly. |
| 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 the stone will come back on whoever 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 causes ruin. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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