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 As snow in summer and as rain in harvest, so honour is not suited for a fool.

2 As the sparrow in its wandering, as the swallow in its flight, so the curse causeless shall never come.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

4 Never answer a fool according to his folly lest thou also be like unto him.

5 Answer the fool showing him his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6 He that gives responsibility to one who is not able to carry it out [is like] him that sends a message by the hand of a fool, and he shall drink the damage.

7 Like unto the way that the [one who is] lame walks, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of the fool.

8 As he that binds the stone in the sling, so [is] he that gives honour to a fool.

9 [As] thorns sunk into the hand of one who is drunk, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 The great [God]that formed all [things] rewards both the fool and transgressors.

11 As a dog returns to his vomit, [so] the fool returns to his folly.

12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.

13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.

14 [As] the door turns upon his hinges, so [does] the slothful upon his bed.

15 The slothful hides his hand in [his] bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can give [him] counsel.

17 He that passes by [and] meddles with strife not [belonging] to him [is like] one that takes a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad [man] who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 so [is] the man [that] destroys his friend and says, Am I not in sport?

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out, so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceases.

21 Charcoal for burning coals and wood for fire, and a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a talebearer seem smooth, but they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 He that hates dissembles with his lips and lays up deceit within him;

25 when he speaks fair, do not believe him, for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.

26 Even though his hatred is covered up in the desert, his wickedness shall be showed before the [whole] congregation.

27 Whosoever digs a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hates [those that are] afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.: