Similitudes and Instructions 1 CPDV In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish. BSB BSB: Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 CPDV Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away. BSB BSB: Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 CPDV A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent. BSB BSB: A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
5 CPDV Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise. BSB BSB: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 CPDV Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity. 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 CPDV In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish. BSB BSB: Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 CPDV Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish. BSB BSB: Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 CPDV In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish. BSB BSB: Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 CPDV Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger. BSB BSB: Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 CPDV Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness. BSB BSB: As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 CPDV Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him. 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 CPDV The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.” BSB BSB: The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 CPDV Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed. BSB BSB: As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 CPDV The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth. BSB BSB: The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 CPDV The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments. BSB BSB: The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 CPDV Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another. BSB BSB: Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 CPDV Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death, BSB BSB: Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 CPDV so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.” BSB BSB: so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 CPDV When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled. BSB BSB: Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 CPDV Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels. BSB BSB: Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 CPDV The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self. BSB BSB: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 CPDV In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart. BSB BSB: Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 CPDV An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit. BSB BSB: A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 CPDV When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart. BSB BSB: When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 CPDV Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly. BSB BSB: Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 CPDV Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him. 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 CPDV A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin. 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.