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 is not suited for 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 in its wandering, as the swallow in its flight, so the curse causeless shall never 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 fool’s back.

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

¶ Never answer 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 the fool showing him his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit.

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

¶ 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.

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

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

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

As he that binds the stone in the sling, so is he that gives 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.

As thorns sunk into the hand of one who is drunk, 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.

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

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

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

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

¶ Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? 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 slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

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

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

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

¶ The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves 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.

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

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

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

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

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

so is the man that destroys his friend and says, 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 there is no wood, the fire goes out, so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.

21 L ike charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Charcoal for burning coals and wood for fire, and a contentious man to kindle 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 seem smooth, but 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.

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

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

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

25 W hen he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.

when he speaks fair, do not believe him, 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.

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

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

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

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

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