Similitudes and Instructions 1 Brenton As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not seemly for a fool. BSB BSB: Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Brenton As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause. BSB BSB: Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Brenton As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so is a rod for a simple nation. BSB BSB: A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
5 Brenton Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit. BSB BSB: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Brenton He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways. BSB BSB: Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Brenton As well take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.BSB BSB: Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Brenton He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool. BSB BSB: Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Brenton Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools. BSB BSB: Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Brenton All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought. BSB BSB: Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Brenton As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is a fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame that is glory and grace. BSB BSB: As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Brenton I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he. BSB BSB: Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Brenton A sluggard when sent on a journey says, There is a lion in the ways, and there are murderers in the streets. BSB BSB: The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Brenton As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed. BSB BSB: As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Brenton A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth. BSB BSB: The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Brenton A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message. BSB BSB: The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Brenton As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause. BSB BSB: Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Brenton As those who need correction put forth fair words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown; BSB BSB: Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 Brenton so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest. BSB BSB: so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Brenton With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases. BSB BSB: Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Brenton A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and a railing man for the tumult of strife. BSB BSB: Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Brenton The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite even to the inmost parts of the bowels. BSB BSB: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Brenton Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart. BSB BSB: Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Brenton A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit. BSB BSB: A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Brenton Though thine enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. BSB BSB: When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Brenton He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies. BSB BSB: Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Brenton He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself. BSB BSB: He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Brenton A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults. BSB BSB: A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.