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

No conviene la nieve en el verano, ni la lluvia en el tiempo de la siega, ni colmar de honores al necio.

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.

Gorrión sin rumbo, golondrina que revolotea: ¡eso es la maldición sin causa, pues nunca llega!

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

Para el caballo, el látigo; para el asno, el freno; para la espalda del necio, la vara.

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

Nunca respondas al necio con necedades, para que no resultes ser otro necio.

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.

Responde al necio conforme a su necedad, para que no se crea demasiado sabio.

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

Recurrir a un necio como mensajero es lo mismo que amputarse los pies; ¡es arriesgarse a pasar un trago amargo!

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

Piernas tullidas que penden inútiles: ¡eso es el proverbio en la boca del necio!

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

Atar la piedra a la honda: ¡eso es el rendir honores a un necio!

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.

Espina clavada en la mano del borracho: ¡eso es el proverbio en labios del necio!

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

Arquero que a todo el mundo hiere: ¡eso es quien emplea a necios y vagabundos!

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

Perro que vuelve a su vómito: ¡eso es el necio que repite su necedad!

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

¿Has visto gente sabia en su propia opinión? ¡Más esperanza tiene el necio que esa gente!

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

El perezoso alega: «¡Un león anda suelto! ¡Está al acecho en el camino y por las calles!»

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

La puerta gira sobre sus bisagras, y el perezoso gira sobre la cama.

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

El perezoso mete la mano en el plato, pero le resulta cansado llevársela a la boca.

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

El perezoso se considera más sabio que siete sabios que sepan aconsejar.

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.

Dejarse llevar del enojo en un pleito ajeno es como querer sujetar a un perro por las orejas.

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

Un loco que, en su locura, lanza mortíferas flechas encendidas:

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

¡eso es el hombre que engaña a su amigo, y luego alega que lo hizo de broma!

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

Sin leña se apaga el fuego, y sin chismosos se acaba el pleito.

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

Para hacer brasas, el carbón; para encender el fuego, la leña; para encender los ánimos, el pendenciero.

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.

Los chismes son deliciosos bocados, que penetran hasta lo más profundo.

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

Los labios seductores y el corazón malvado son una vasija de barro bañada en plata barata.

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

El que odia, lo disimula con los labios pero por dentro maquina el engaño.

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

No confíes en quien habla con voz engolada, porque en su corazón hay siete abominaciones.

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

Aunque el odio se encubra con disimulo, la maldad se hará manifiesta en la comunidad.

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

El que cava el foso, en él se cae; al que empuja la piedra, la piedra lo aplasta.

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

La lengua falsa aborrece al que ha herido; la boca zalamera conduce al desastre.