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

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

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

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight.

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

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.

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

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.

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

Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not 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 cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.

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

Like the legs which are useless to the lame, 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.

Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor 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.

Like a thorn which falls 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.

Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

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

Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.

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

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

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

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!”

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

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

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

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

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

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

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

Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.

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

Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death,

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

So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “ Was I not joking?”

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

For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.

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

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle 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 whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

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

Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

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

He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart.

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

When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, 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 his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

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

He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

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

A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.