1 L ike snow in summer and like rain at gathering time, so honor is not right for a fool.

2 L ike a sparrow in its traveling, like a swallow in its flying, so bad words said against someone without reason do not come to rest.

3 A whip is for the horse, leather ropes are for the donkey, and a stick is for the back of fools.

4 D o not answer a fool by his foolish ways, or you will be like him.

5 A nswer a fool in the way he has earned by his foolish acts, so he will not be wise in his own eyes.

6 H e who sends a letter by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and brings trouble upon himself.

7 A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like the legs on a man who cannot walk.

8 H e who gives honor to a fool is like one who ties a stone in a sling.

9 A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like a thorn that goes into the hand of a man who drinks too much.

10 H e who hires a fool or hires those who pass by is like a man who uses a bow to hurt everyone.

11 A fool who does his foolish act again is like a dog that turns back to what he has thrown up.

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

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

14 A s a door turns, so does the lazy man on his bed.

15 T he lazy man buries his hand in the dish. It makes him tired to bring it to his mouth again.

16 T he lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a wise answer.

17 H e who passes by and has a part in someone else’s fight is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 L ike a crazy man who throws pieces of burning wood and arrows of death,

19 s o is the man who fools his neighbor with a lie, and says, “I was only joking.”

20 W hen there is no wood, the fire goes out. Where there is no one telling secret stories about people, arguing stops.

21 A n arguing man makes fights worse. He is like coals to burning wood and wood to a fire.

22 T he words of one who tells secret things about people are like good-tasting bites of food. They go down into the inside parts of the body.

23 B urning lips and a sinful heart are like a pot covered with silver waste.

24 H e who hates covers it up with his lips, but stores up false ways in his heart.

25 W hen he speaks with kindness, do not believe him, for there are seven things that are hated in his heart.

26 E ven if his hate is covered with false ways, his sin will be found out in front of the great meeting.

27 H e who digs a deep hole will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a mouth that speaks false words destroys.