1 A s snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.

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

As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

3 A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, 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 D o not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.

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

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

Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

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

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.

7 L ike the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

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

As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.

9 L ike a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 T he great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

11 A s a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that 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.

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

13 T he lazy man says, “ There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!”

The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.

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

As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.

15 T he lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

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

16 T he lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.

17 H e who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like 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 I s the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!”

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?

20 W here there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

21 A s charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

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

22 T he words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

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

23 F ervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

24 H e who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself;

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:

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

When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:

26 T hough his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

Though his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.

27 W hoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll 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 who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.