All About Fools

1 Like as snow is not mete in summer, nor rain in harvest; even so is worship unseemly for a fool.

1 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.

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

1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,(A)honor is inappropriate for a fool.(B)

1 Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time, so honor is inappropriate for a fool.

2 Like as the bird, and the swallow take their flight and flee here and there; so the curse that is given in vain, shall not light upon a man.

2 Like a (C)sparrow in its (a)flitting, like a swallow in its flying,So a (D)curse without cause does not (b)alight.

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

2 Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,(C)an undeserved curse goes nowhere.(D)

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a swallow in flight, a curse without cause will not alight.

3 Unto the horse belongeth a whip, to the Ass a bridle, and a rod to the fool's back.

3 A (E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,And a (F)rod for the back of fools.

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

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(E)and a rod for the backs of fools.(F)

3 A whip is for the horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools.

4 Give not the fool an answer after his foolishness, lest thou become like unto him;

4 (G)Do not answer a fool according to his folly,Or you will also be like him.

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

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness(G)or you’ll be like him yourself.

4 Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will be just like him.

5 but make the fool an answer to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

5 (H)Answer a fool as his folly deserves,That he not be (I)wise in his own eyes.

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

5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness(H)or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.(I)

5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he will think himself to be wise.

6 He is lame of his feet, yea drunken is he in vanity, that committeth any message to a fool.

6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violenceWho sends a message by the hand of a fool.

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

6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand(J)cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.(K)

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like as in a lame man his legs are not equal, even so is a parable in the fool's mouth.

7 Like the legs which (c)are useless to the lame,So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

7 A proverb in the mouth of a foolis like lame legs that hang limp.

7 Useless legs to the lame that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is.

8 He that setteth a fool in high dignity, that is even as if a man would bind a stone in a sling.

8 Like (d)one who binds a stone in a sling,So is he who gives honor to a fool.

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

8 Giving honor to a foolis like binding a stone in a sling.(a)

8 Tying a stone to a sling that's what giving honor to a fool is.

9 A parable in a fools mouth is like a thorn that pricketh a drunken man in the hand.

9 Like a thorn which (e)falls into the hand of a drunkard,So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

9 A proverb in the mouth of a foolis like a stick with thorns,brandished by(b) the hand of a drunkard.

9 A thorn in the hand of a drunkard that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is.

10 A man of experience discerneth all things well, but whoso hireth a fool, hireth such one as will take no heed.

10 (f)Like an archer who wounds everyone,So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

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

10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing byis like an archer who wounds everyone.

10 An archer who shoots at anyone is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.

11 Like as the dog turneth again to his vomit, even so a fool beginneth his foolishness again afresh.

11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomitIs a fool who (K)repeats (g)his folly.

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

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,so a fool repeats his foolishness.(L)

11 A dog that returns to its vomit is like a fool who reverts to his folly.

12 If thou seest a man that is wise in his own conceit, there is more hope in a fool than in him.

12 Do you see a man (L)wise in his own eyes?(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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

12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.(N)

12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion? There's more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The slothful sayeth, "There is a leopard in the way, and a lion in the midst of the streets."

13 The (N)sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!A lion is (h)in the open square!”

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

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—a lion in the public square!”(O)

13 The lazy person claims, "There is a lion in the road! There's a lion in the streets!"

14 Like as the door turneth about upon the threshold, even so doth the slothful welter himself in his bed.

14 As the door turns on its hinges,So does the (O)sluggard on his bed.

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

14 A door turns on its hinges,and a slacker, on his bed.(P)

14 The door turns on its hinges as does the lazy person on his bed.

15 The slothful body thrusteth his hand into his bosom, and it grieveth him to put it again to his mouth.

15 The (P)sluggard buries his hand in the dish;He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

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

15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;he is too weary to bring it to his mouth.(Q)

15 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish, but he's too tired to bring it to his mouth again.

16 The sluggard thinketh himself wiser than seven men that sit and teach.

16 The sluggard is (Q)wiser in his own eyesThan seven men who can (i)give a discreet answer.

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

16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser(R)than seven men who can answer sensibly.

16 The lazy person is wiser in his own opinion than seven men who can give an appropriate response.

17 Whoso goeth by and meddleth with other men's strife, he is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

17 Like one who takes a dog by the earsIs he who passes by and (j)meddles with (R)strife not belonging to him.

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

17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not hisis like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

17 Picking up a dog by the ears that's what someone is like who meddles in another's fight.

18 Like as one shooteth deadly arrows and darts out of a privy place, even so doth a dissembler with his neighbour.

18 Like a madman who throws(S)Firebrands, arrows and death,

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

18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,(S)

18 Like the maniac who shoots fiery darts and deadly arrows

19 And then sayeth he, "I did it but in sport!"

19 So is the man who (T)deceives his neighbor,And says, “(U)Was I not joking?”

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

19 so is the man who deceives his neighborand says, “I was only joking!”

19 that's what someone is like who lies to his neighbor and then says, "I was joking, wasn't I?"

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; and where the backbiter is taken away, there the strife ceaseth.

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,And where there is no (V)whisperer, (W)contention quiets down.

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

20 Without wood, fire goes out;without a gossip, conflict dies down.(T)

20 Without wood, the fire goes out. Without a gossip, contention stops.

21 Coals kindle heat, and wood the fire; even so doth a brawling fellow stir up variance.

21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,So is a (X)contentious man to kindle strife.

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

21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.(U)

21 Charcoal is to hot coals as wood is to fire; so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife.

22 A slanderer's words are like flattery, but they pierce the inward parts of the body.

22 The (Y)words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,And they go down into the (k)innermost parts of the body.

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

22 A gossip’s words are like choice foodthat goes down to one’s innermost being.(c)(V)

22 The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels; they sink down deep within.

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

23 Like an earthen (Z)vessel overlaid with silver (AA)drossAre burning lips and a wicked heart.

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

23 Smooth(d) lips with an evil heartare like glaze on an earthen vessel.(W)

23 A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver that's what smooth lips with a wicked heart are.

24 An enemy dissembleth with his lips, and in the mean season he imagineth mischief;

24 He who (AB)hates disguises it with his lips,But he lays up (AC)deceit in his (l)heart.

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

24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speechand harbors deceit within.

24 Someone who hates hides behind his words, harboring deceit within himself.

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

25 When (m)he (AD)speaks graciously, do not believe him,For there are seven abominations in his heart.

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

25 When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,for there are seven abominations in his heart.(X)

25 Though he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart.

26 Whoso keepeth evil will secretly, to do hurt, his malice shall be showed before the whole congregation.

26 Though his hatred (AE)covers itself with guile,His wickedness will be (AF)revealed before the assembly.

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

26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

26 Though malice disguises itself with deception, its evil will be exposed publicly.

27 Whoso diggeth up a pit, shall fall therein; and he that weltereth a stone, shall stumble upon it himself.

27 He who (AG)digs a pit will fall into it,And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

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

27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it,and whoever rolls a stone—it will come back on him.(Y)

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and the stone will come back on whoever starts it rolling.

28 A dissembling tongue hateth one that rebuketh him; and a flattering mouth worketh mischief.

28 A lying tongue hates (n)those it crushes,And a (AH)flattering mouth works ruin.

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

28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,and a flattering mouth causes ruin. >

28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

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