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

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

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

As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.

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

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

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

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

5 A nswer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.

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

6 H e cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.

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

7 L ike the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

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

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

9 L ike a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, 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 L ike an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

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

11 L ike a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.

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

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

Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

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

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

14 A s the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.

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

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

The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

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

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

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

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

18 L ike a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death,

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

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

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

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

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

21 L ike charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is 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 whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

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

23 L ike an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

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

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

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

25 W hen he speaks graciously, 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 T hough his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

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

27 H e who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on 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 it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

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