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

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.

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

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 fool’s back.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

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

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

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

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

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.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off feet, drinketh damage.

7 L ike unto the way that the one who is lame walks, so is a proverb in the mouth of the fool.

The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 A s he that binds the stone in the sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool.

As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9 A s thorns sunk into the hand of one who is drunk, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.

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

As a dog turneth back to its vomit, a fool repeateth his folly.

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

Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? 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.

The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!

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

the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.

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

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 give him counsel.

A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven that answer discreetly.

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

He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is one that taketh a dog by the ears.

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

As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 s o is the man that destroys his friend and says, Am I not in sport?

so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?

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

Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.

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

coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.

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

The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and 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.

Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

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

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:

25 w hen he speaks fair, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 E ven though his hatred is covered up in the desert, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.

Though hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.

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

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

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

A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.