Proverbs 26
NLT Parallel NIV [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
New Living TranslationNew International Version
1Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison.
7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”13A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!"
14As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
20Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.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.

Proverbs 25
Top of Page
Top of Page