1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou.5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.6 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.7 Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.9 A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.10 Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.11 As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!13 The slothful hath said, `A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.`14 The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.15 The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,19 So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?`20 Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.22 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.24 By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,25 When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.27 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.28 A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. 2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not. 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 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 a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9 As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools. 10 As an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by. 11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is a fool that repeateth his folly. 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. 14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth 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 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. 17 He that passeth by, and 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 the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? 20 For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth. 21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to inflame strife. 22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. 24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him: 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart: 26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before 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 whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.