Similitudes and Instructions 1 UDB When it snows in the summer or when it rains in the harvest, that is what it is like when a fool gets honor— honor for him comes at the wrong time and the wrong place. BSB BSB: Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 UDB A sparrow flies here and there flittering around, and a swallow darts back and forth when it flies; that is like someone speaking a curse against you—it cannot land on you. BSB BSB: Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 UDB A horse needs a whip to make it move, and a donkey must have a bridle in its mouth or it will not carry its load. In the same way, a fool needs someone to beat him on his back to get him to do anything. BSB BSB: A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
5 UDB Give a fool an answer that will be just as foolish as his question, and that may open his eyes so he can see that he is not as wise as he thinks. BSB BSB: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 UDB If you entrust an important message to be delivered by a fool, that would as foolish as cutting off your own feet and then taking a drink of poison. 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 UDB A lame man cannot use his legs; they hang down and are useless, as useless as when fools are reciting proverbs to one another that they do not understand. BSB BSB: Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 UDB When you tie a stone into a sling so it cannot be thrown, that is like one who gives honor to a fool, for no matter how much you praise him, it will never do him any good. BSB BSB: Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 UDB When you see a drunk man picking up a bush full of thorns, that is as helpful as a fool reciting proverbs. BSB BSB: Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 UDB An archer who aims and shoots arrows at people standing around him is as dangerous as one who hires a fool or who takes so little care that he hires the next person who comes along. BSB BSB: Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 UDB When you see a dog return to his vomit, that is just like a fool who does the same foolish thing over and over again. BSB BSB: As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 UDB Do you know someone who has this idea about himself— he thinks he is a very wise person? It is easier to teach a fool than 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 UDB The lazy person has many reasons for not working— you might hear him say, "But there is a lion in the street!" or "Oh, there is a lion in the market!" BSB BSB: The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 UDB When you see a door swing back and forth on it hinges, that is just like one who is lazy when he is lying on his bed, turning back and forth. BSB BSB: As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 UDB One who is lazy might reach down with his hand to get some food, but he does not have the energy to put the food into his mouth. BSB BSB: The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 UDB The one who is lazy considers himself to be very wise, wiser than seven men who are known for their insight. BSB BSB: The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 UDB Someone who walks by a dog lying on the ground, who then reaches down and pulls its ears— he is like someone who hears an argument as he is walking by, and he gets involved and becomes angry and then he takes sides and joins in— even though he had nothing to do with it. BSB BSB: Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 UDB Who is like an insane person who shoots burning arrows in every direction? One who lies to his neighbor! He makes an excuse to his neighbor and tells him, "I was only joking"; but just like the madman's arrows, what he said has set everything on fire. BSB BSB: Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
20 UDB The fire goes out when there is no more wood to burn; even so, arguments stop when no one is gossiping. BSB BSB: Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 UDB As charcoal can ignite into burning coal and a log of wood into a fire, so the one who argues sets anger ablaze. BSB BSB: Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 UDB The gossip tells stories that are like sweet treats to eat; people eat them like candy until they are filled. BSB BSB: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 UDB A shining glaze applied with great heat covers the clay pot, and that is like the fiery words that cover an evil heart. BSB BSB: Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 UDB The one who is filled with hate—by the words he speaks, he hides his true feelings; and he stores up more and more lies within himself. BSB BSB: A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 UDB He may speak kind words, but you should not believe them, because deep within him is everything that Yahweh despises. BSB BSB: When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 UDB Even though he covers up his hatred by his lies, everyone will realize how wicked he is. BSB BSB: Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 UDB One who digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone rolls back on the one who tries to push it up a hill. 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 UDB The one who lies hates the people he destroys, just as much as the person who uses flattery causes terrible destruction. 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.