1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.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.10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, {so} a fool repeateth his folly.12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!14 {As} the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven {men} that answer discreetly.17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is {like} one that taketh a dog by the ears.18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.21 {As} coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are {as} an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.26 Though {his} hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

1 Soos sneeu in die somer en soos reën in die oestyd, so pas eer nie by 'n dwaas nie.2 Soos die voëltjie wegfladder, soos die swaweltjie wegvlieg, so is 'n vervloeking sonder oorsaak: dit kom nie uit nie.3 'n Sweep is vir die perd, 'n toom vir die esel en 'n roede vir die rug van die dwase.4 Antwoord 'n dwaas nie na sy sotheid nie, sodat jy ook nie net soos hy word nie.5 Antwoord 'n dwaas na sy sotheid, sodat hy nie wys is in sy eie oë nie.6 Hy kap sy voete af, hy ly onreg, wat 'n boodskap stuur deur middel van 'n dwaas.7 Soos die bene van 'n lamme slap afhang, so is 'n spreuk in die mond van die dwase.8 Soos een wat 'n klip in 'n slinger vasbind, so is hy wat eer gee aan 'n dwaas.9 Soos 'n doring wat in die hand van 'n dronkaard geraak het, so is 'n spreuk in die mond van die dwase.10 Soos 'n skutter wat alles in gevaar bring, is hy wat 'n dwaas huur, sowel as hy wat verbygangers huur.11 Soos 'n hond wat na sy uitbraaksel teruggaan, is 'n dwaas wat sy sotheid weer ophaal.12 Het jy 'n man gesien wat wys is in sy eie oë? Daar is meer hoop vir 'n dwaas as vir hom.13 Die luiaard sê: Daar is 'n leeu op die pad, 'n leeu op die pleine.14 'n Deur draai rond op sy skarniere, so die luiaard op sy bed.15 Het die luiaard sy hand in die skottel gesteek, hy is te moeg om dit na sy mond terug te bring.16 Die luiaard is wyser in sy eie oë as sewe wat verstandig antwoord.17 Hy wat 'n verbylopende hond aan die ore gryp, is een wat hom vererg oor 'n twis wat hom nie aangaan nie.18 Soos een wat onverskillig vuurpyle, dodelike pyle afskiet,19 so is die man wat sy naaste bedrieg en sê: Ek speel somaar.20 Deur gebrek aan hout gaan die vuur dood, en as daar geen kwaadstoker is nie, bedaar die twis.21 Soos kole die gloed en hout die vuur laat opvlam, so is 'n twisgierige man om 'n twis aan te hits.22 Die woorde van 'n kwaadstoker is soos lekkernye, en dit gly af na die kamers van die binneste.23 Silwerskuim waarmee 'n potskerf oorgetrek is -- so is gloeiende lippe en 'n slegte hart.24 Die hater veins met sy lippe, maar in sy binneste koester hy bedrog.25 As hy sy stem lieflik maak, vertrou hom nie; want sewe gruwels is in sy hart.26 Al verberg die haat homself in bedrog, sy boosheid word in die vergadering openbaar.27 Wie 'n kuil grawe, sal daarin val; en hy wat 'n klip rol, dit sal na hom terugkom.28 'n Valse tong haat die wat hy verbrysel het, en 'n gladde mond bewerk ondergang.