Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
New Life Version
Proverbs 26:7
A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like the legs on a man who cannot walk.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
A proverb in the mouth of a foolis like lame legs that hang limp.
A proverb in the mouth of a foolis like lame legs that hang limp.
Hebrew Names Version
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
King James Version
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
English Standard Version
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
New American Standard Bible
Like useless legs to one who cannot walk, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Like useless legs to one who cannot walk, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
New Century Version
A wise saying spoken by a fool is as useless as the legs of a crippled person.
A wise saying spoken by a fool is as useless as the legs of a crippled person.
Amplified Bible
Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].
Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].
World English Bible
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Geneva Bible (1587)
As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
Legacy Standard Bible
Like the legs which hang limp on the lame,So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like the legs which hang limp on the lame,So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Berean Standard Bible
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Contemporary English Version
A fool with words of wisdom is like an athlete with legs that can't move.
A fool with words of wisdom is like an athlete with legs that can't move.
Complete Jewish Bible
The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless; likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless; likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Darby Translation
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Easy-to-Read Version
A fool trying to say something wise is like a crippled person trying to walk.
A fool trying to say something wise is like a crippled person trying to walk.
George Lamsa Translation
As a lame man who cannot walk, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool.
As a lame man who cannot walk, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool.
Good News Translation
A fool can use a proverb about as well as crippled people can use their legs.
A fool can use a proverb about as well as crippled people can use their legs.
Lexham English Bible
Like legs that hang limp from a lame person, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like legs that hang limp from a lame person, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Literal Translation
As the legs of the lame are weak, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
As the legs of the lame are weak, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Like as it is an vnsemely thige to haue legges & yet to halte, eue so is a parable in ye fooles mouth.
Like as it is an vnsemely thige to haue legges & yet to halte, eue so is a parable in ye fooles mouth.
American Standard Version
The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Bible in Basic English
The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish.
The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The legs hang limp from the lame; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The legs hang limp from the lame; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
King James Version (1611)
The legges of the lame are not equall: so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
The legges of the lame are not equall: so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Like as in a lame man his legges are not equall: euen so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
Like as in a lame man his legges are not equall: euen so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
English Revised Version
The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.
As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.
Update Bible Version
[As] the legs hang loose from a cripple: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
[As] the legs hang loose from a cripple: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Webster's Bible Translation
The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
New English Translation
Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
New King James Version
Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
New Living Translation
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
New Revised Standard
The legs of a disabled person hang limp; so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
The legs of a disabled person hang limp; so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
Douay-Rheims Bible
As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
Revised Standard Version
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Young's Literal Translation
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
THE MESSAGE
A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle.
A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Contextual Overview
6 He who sends a letter by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and brings trouble upon himself. 7 A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like the legs on a man who cannot walk. 8 He who gives honor to a fool is like one who ties a stone in a sling. 9 A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like a thorn that goes into the hand of a man who drinks too much.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
not equal: Heb. lifted up
so: Proverbs 26:9, Proverbs 17:7, Psalms 50:16-21, Psalms 64:8, Matthew 7:4, Matthew 7:5, Luke 4:23
Reciprocal: Job 27:1 - Job
Cross-References
Genesis 12:13
Say that you are my sister. Then it may go well with me because of you. And because of you they will not kill me."
Say that you are my sister. Then it may go well with me because of you. And because of you they will not kill me."
Genesis 20:2
Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her for his wife.
Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her for his wife.
Genesis 20:5
Did the man not tell me, ‘She is my sister'? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.' I have done this with a heart of honor and with hands that are not guilty."
Did the man not tell me, ‘She is my sister'? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.' I have done this with a heart of honor and with hands that are not guilty."
Genesis 24:16
The girl was very beautiful and had never lain with a man. She went down to the well, filled her jar and came up.
The girl was very beautiful and had never lain with a man. She went down to the well, filled her jar and came up.
Genesis 26:12
Isaac planted seeds in that land. And he gathered in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted. The Lord brought good to him.
Isaac planted seeds in that land. And he gathered in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted. The Lord brought good to him.
Genesis 26:13
Isaac became rich and kept getting richer until he became a great man.
Isaac became rich and kept getting richer until he became a great man.
Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man brings a trap, but he who trusts in the Lord will be honored.
The fear of man brings a trap, but he who trusts in the Lord will be honored.
Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of them who kill the body. They are not able to kill the soul. But fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Do not be afraid of them who kill the body. They are not able to kill the soul. But fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives. You must love them as Christ loved the church. He gave His life for it.
Husbands, love your wives. You must love them as Christ loved the church. He gave His life for it.
Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to each other. You have put out of your life your old ways.
Do not lie to each other. You have put out of your life your old ways.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
The legs of the lame are not equal,.... Or as "the lifting up the legs by one that is lame" m, to dance to a pipe or violin, is very unseemly, and does but the more expose his infirmity, and can give no pleasure to others, but causes derision and contempt;
so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools; an apophthegm, or sententious expression of his own, which he delivers out as a wise saying, but is lame and halts; it is not consistent with itself, but like the legs of a lame man, one higher than the other: or one of the proverbs of this book, or rather any passage of Scripture, in the mouth of a wicked man; or any religious discourse of his is very unsuitable, since his life and conversation do not agree with it; it is as disagreeable to hear such a man talk of religious affairs as it is to see a lame man dance; or whose legs imitate buckets at a well, where one goes up and another down, as Gussetius n interprets the word.
m דליו שוקים מפסה "elevatio crurum a claudo facta", Gejerus, Michaelis. n "Femora claudi imitantur situlas", Gussetius, p. 188. "situlas agunt crura ex claudio", Schultens; "instar binarum sitularum in puteo alternatium adscendentium ac descendentium", Gejerus.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Or, Take away the legs of the lame man, and the parable that is in the mouth of fools: both are alike useless to their possessors. Other meanings are:
(1) “The legs of the lame man are feeble, so is parable in the mouth of fools.”
(2) “the lifting up of the legs of a lame man, i. e., his attempts at dancing, are as the parable in the mouth of fools.”
