1 N o conviene la nieve en el verano, ni la lluvia en el tiempo de la siega, ni colmar de honores al necio.

¶ As snow in summer and as rain in harvest, so honour is not suited for a fool.

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

¶ As the sparrow in its wandering, as the swallow in its flight, so the curse causeless shall never come.

3 P ara el caballo, el látigo; para el asno, el freno; para la espalda del necio, la vara.

¶ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

4 N unca respondas al necio con necedades, para que no resultes ser otro necio.

¶ Never answer a fool according to his folly lest thou also be like unto him.

5 R esponde al necio conforme a su necedad, para que no se crea demasiado sabio.

Answer the fool showing him his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit.

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

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

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

8 A tar la piedra a la honda: ¡eso es el rendir honores a un necio!

As he that binds the stone in the sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool.

9 E spina clavada en la mano del borracho: ¡eso es el proverbio en labios del necio!

As thorns sunk into the hand of one who is drunk, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

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

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

11 P erro que vuelve a su vómito: ¡eso es el necio que repite su necedad!

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

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

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

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

¶ The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 L a puerta gira sobre sus bisagras, y el perezoso gira sobre la cama.

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

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

¶ The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 E l perezoso se considera más sabio que siete sabios que sepan aconsejar.

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

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

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

18 U n loco que, en su locura, lanza mortíferas flechas encendidas:

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

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

so is the man that destroys his friend and says, Am I not in sport?

20 S in leña se apaga el fuego, y sin chismosos se acaba el pleito.

¶ Where there is no wood, the fire goes out, so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.

21 P ara hacer brasas, el carbón; para encender el fuego, la leña; para encender los ánimos, el pendenciero.

Charcoal for burning coals and wood for fire, and a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 L os chismes son deliciosos bocados, que penetran hasta lo más profundo.

The words of a talebearer seem smooth, but they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

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

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

24 E l que odia, lo disimula con los labios pero por dentro maquina el engaño.

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

25 N o confíes en quien habla con voz engolada, porque en su corazón hay siete abominaciones.

when he speaks fair, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 A unque el odio se encubra con disimulo, la maldad se hará manifiesta en la comunidad.

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

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

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

28 L a lengua falsa aborrece al que ha herido; la boca zalamera conduce al desastre.

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