1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow,

like a darting swallow,

so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.

3 A whip is for the horse,

a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the back of fools!

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,

lest you also be like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool

is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,

so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 As one who binds a stone in a sling,

so is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,

so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 As an archer who wounds all,

so is he who hires a fool

or he who hires those who pass by.

11 As a dog that returns to his vomit,

so is a fool who repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road!

A fierce lion roams the streets!"

14 As the door turns on its hinges,

so does the sluggard on his bed.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish.

He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who answer with discretion.

17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears

is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"

20 For lack of wood a fire goes out.

Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

21 As coals are to hot embers,

and wood to fire,

so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

they go down into the innermost parts.

23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel

are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,

but he harbors evil in his heart.

25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him,

for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 His malice may be concealed by deception,

but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.

Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts;

and a flattering mouth works 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.