Proverbs

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

1Snow does not belong in summer, and rain does not belong at harvest time. In the same way, honor does not belong to a fool.

2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

2A sparrow flits about and a swallow darts by, and neither one settles down. A curse that is not deserved will not land either.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

3A whip is for the horse. A bridle is for the donkey. And a rod is for the back of a fool.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

4Do not answer a fool by matching his foolish talk. If you do, you will end up sounding just like him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

5Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves. If you do not, he will go on thinking he is wise.

6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

6Sending a message by way of a fool is like cutting off your own feet. You are drinking down trouble.

7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

7A lame man's legs hang limp and useless. A wise saying in the mouth of a fool is just as useless.

8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

8Tying a stone into a sling makes the sling worthless. Giving honor to a fool is the same kind of mistake.

9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

9A drunk man does not feel the thorn stuck in his hand. A fool handles a wise saying just as carelessly.

10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

10The great God who made everything pays back the fool, and He pays back those who break His law.

NoteThe Hebrew of this verse is unclear, and translators read it in different ways. Some render it as a careless archer who shoots at random and wounds whoever is near.

11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

11A dog goes back and eats its own vomit. In the same way, a fool goes back and repeats his foolishness.

12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

12Do you see a man who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

13The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion out in the street!"

14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

14A door swings back and forth on its hinges and never goes anywhere. That is the lazy man on his bed.

15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

15The lazy man dips his hand into the food dish. Then he is too tired to lift it back to his mouth.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

16The lazy man thinks he is wiser than seven men who can give a sensible answer.

17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

17Grabbing a stray dog by the ears is asking to be bitten. So is jumping into an argument that is none of your business.

18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

18Think of a crazy man who throws burning sticks and shoots arrows that kill.

19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

19That is what a man is like who tricks his neighbor and then says, "I was only joking!"

20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

20When the wood runs out, the fire goes out. When gossip stops, the quarrel stops too.

21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

21Charcoal keeps the coals glowing, and wood keeps the fire burning. A man who loves to argue keeps trouble going.

22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

22The words of a gossip slip down easily, and they settle deep inside a person.

NoteThe KJV says the words "are as wounds." The Hebrew word more likely means tasty bites of food, which is why the picture is of words being swallowed down.

23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

23Warm, eager words hiding a wicked heart are like a cheap clay pot with a shiny coating.

NoteA "potsherd" is a piece of broken pottery, and "silver dross" is the cheap scum left over from refining silver. Together they mean a worthless thing given a shiny coating.

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

24A man who hates you hides it with friendly words. Inside, he is storing up his lies.

25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

25When he speaks kindly, do not believe him. His heart is full of seven hateful things.

26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

26He can cover his hatred with tricks for a while. But his evil will be shown to everyone.

27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever rolls a heavy stone uphill will have it roll back on him.

28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

28A lying tongue hates the people it hurts. A mouth full of flattery tears lives apart.