Similitudes and Instructions
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Similitudes and Instructions
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Similitudes and Instructions
1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,
honor does not befit a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence
is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like binding a stone into a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, a
so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road!
A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish;
it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears
is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands
and deadly arrows,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood, a fire goes out;
without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
that go down into the inmost being.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel
are burning b lips and a wicked heart.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech,
but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Footnotes:
11 a Cited in 2 Peter 2:22
23 b Hebrew; LXX smooth
Similitudes and Instructions
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour is not comely for a fool.
2As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So is he who is giving honour to a fool.
9A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10Great is the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13The slothful hath said, 'A lion is in the way, A lion is in the broad places.'
14The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16Wiser is the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven men returning a reason.
17Laying hold on the ears of a dog, Is a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18As one pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22The words of a tale-bearer are as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart.
23Silver of dross spread over potsherd, Are burning lips and an evil heart.
24By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations are in his heart.
26Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
