| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. | 1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. |
| 2Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. | 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 donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back. | 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. |
| 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. | 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 eyes. | 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. |
| 6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. | 6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. |
| 7Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. |
| 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. | 8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. |
| 9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. | 9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. |
| 10The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. | 10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. |
| 11As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. | 11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. |
| 12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | 12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. |
| 13The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” | 13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. |
| 14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. | 14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. |
| 15The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. | 15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. |
| 16The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. | 16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. |
| 17He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears. | 17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. |
| 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, | 18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, |
| 19Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” | 19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? |
| 20Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. | 20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. |
| 21As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. | 21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. |
| 22The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. | 22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. |
| 23Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. | 23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. |
| 24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; | 24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; |
| 25When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; | 25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. |
| 26Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. | 26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. |
| 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. | 27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. |
| 28A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin. | 28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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