1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.7Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.8Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.10Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that repeateth his folly.12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.13The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.14As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.17Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.18Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.Though his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Berean Standard Bible (public domain).World English Bible (public domain).King James Version (public domain in the US).American Standard Version, 1901 (public domain).