Proverbs 26:5–9
5 aAnswer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be bwise in his own eyes.
6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like the legs which 1are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like 1one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn which 1falls into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — The New International Version (NIV)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — English Standard Version (ESV)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling
is one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal:
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling,
So is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.
6 Trusting a fool to convey a message
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
8 Honoring a fool
is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — New Century Version (NCV)
5 Answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or they will think they are really wise.
6 Sending a message by a foolish person
is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.
7 A wise saying spoken by a fool
is as useless as the legs of a crippled person.
8 Giving honor to a foolish person
is like tying a stone in a slingshot.
9 A wise saying spoken by a fool
is like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — American Standard Version (ASV)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose;
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,
So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage. 7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
5 Answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or he will think he is wise.
6 Whoever uses a fool to send a message
cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.
7 ⸤Like⸥ a lame person’s limp legs,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 ⸤Like⸥ a thorn stuck in a drunk’s hand,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.
6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.
8 Giving honor to a fool
is like binding a stone in a sling.
9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by the hand of a drunkard.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
or they will be wise in their own eyes.
6 It is like cutting off one’s foot and drinking down violence,
to send a message by a fool.
7 The legs of a disabled person hang limp;
so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 It is like binding a stone in a sling
to give honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,
so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
7 Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like binding a stone in a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:5–9 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
5 Answer a foolish person in keeping with his foolish acts.
If you do, he won’t be wise in his own eyes.
6 Sending a message in the hand of a foolish person
is like cutting off your feet or drinking something harmful.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person
is like disabled legs that are useless.
8 Giving honor to a foolish person
is like tying a stone in a slingshot.
9 A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person
is like a thorn in the hand of someone who is drunk.