1 L ike snow in summer and like rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 L ike the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying, so the causeless curse does not alight.

Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

4 A nswer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

5 A nswer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes and conceit.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 H e who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet and drinks the damage.

One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

7 L ike the legs of a lame man which hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool.

Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 L ike he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 L ike a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunken man, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 l ike an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or chance passers-by.

As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

11 A s a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.

As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.

12 D o you see a man wise in his own eyes and conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 T he sluggard says, There is a lion in the way! A lion is in the streets!

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”

14 A s the door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man upon his bed.

As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.

15 T he slothful and self-indulgent buries his hand in his bosom; it distresses and wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 T he sluggard is wiser in his own eyes and conceit than seven men who can render a reason and answer discreetly.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

17 H e who, passing by, stops to meddle with strife that is none of his business is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18 L ike a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,

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

19 S o is the man who deceives his neighbor and then says, Was I not joking?

is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”

20 F or lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.

For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

21 A s coals are to hot embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man to inflame strife.

As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

22 T he words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport; and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.

23 B urning lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel covered with the scum thrown off from molten silver.

Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

24 H e who hates pretends with his lips, but stores up deceit within himself.

A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.

25 W hen he speaks kindly, do not trust him, for seven abominations are in his heart.

When his speech is charming, don’t believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 T hough his hatred covers itself with guile, his wickedness shall be shown openly before the assembly.

His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 W hoever digs a pit shall fall into it himself, and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.

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 wounds and crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.