1 C omo no conviene la nieve en el verano, ni la lluvia en la siega, Así no conviene al necio la honra.

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

2 C omo el gorrión en su vagar, y como la golondrina en su vuelo, Así la maldición sin motivo no llega a término.

Like 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 E l látigo para el caballo, el cabestro para el asno, Y la vara para la espalda del necio.

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

4 N unca respondas al necio de acuerdo con su necedad, Para que no seas tú también como él.

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

5 R esponde al necio como merece su necedad, No sea que vaya a creerse que es un sabio.

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

6 C omo el que se corta los pies y bebe su amargura, Así es el que envía recado por mano de un necio.

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

7 L as piernas del cojo penden inútiles; Así es el proverbio en la boca del necio.

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

8 C omo quien ata la piedra en la honda, Así hace el que da honra al necio.

He who gives honor to a fool is like one who ties a stone in a sling.

9 E spinas hincadas en mano del embriagado, Tal es el proverbio en la boca de los necios.

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 C omo arquero que hiere a todos los transeúntes, Es el que toma a sueldo insensatos y vagabundos.

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

11 C omo perro que vuelve a su vómito, Así es el necio que repite su necedad.

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

12 ¿ Has visto hombre sabio en su propia opinión? Más esperanza hay del necio que de él.

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

13 D ice el perezoso: Hay un león en el camino; Hay un león en la calle.

The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the way! There is a lion in the streets!”

14 C omo la puerta gira sobre sus quicios, Así el perezoso da vueltas en su cama.

As a door turns, so does the lazy man on his bed.

15 M ete el perezoso su mano en el plato; Y se cansa de llevársela a la boca.

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

16 E n su propia opinión el perezoso es más sabio Que siete que sepan aconsejar.

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

17 E l que al pasar se entremete en disputa que no le incumbe, Es como el que toma al perro por las orejas.

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

18 C omo el que enloquece, y echa llamas Y saetas y muerte,

Like a crazy man who throws pieces of burning wood and arrows of death,

19 T al es el hombre que engaña a su amigo, Y dice: Ciertamente lo hice por broma.

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

20 S in leña se apaga el fuego, Y donde no hay chismoso, cesa la contienda.

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

21 E l carbón para brasas, y la leña para el fuego; Y el hombre rencilloso para encender contienda.

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

22 L as palabras del chismoso son como golosinas, Y penetran hasta las entrañas.

The 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 C omo escoria de plata que barniza la loza, Son los labios lisonjeros con un corazón malo.

Burning lips and a sinful heart are like a pot covered with silver waste.

24 E l que odia disimula con sus labios; Mas en su interior maquina engaño.

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

25 A unque hable en tono amable, no le creas; Porque siete abominaciones hay en su corazón.

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

26 A unque su odio se cubra con disimulo, Su maldad será descubierta en la congregación.

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

27 E l que cava foso caerá en él; Y al que hace rodar una piedra grande, se le vendrá encima.

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

28 L a lengua falsa atormenta al que ya es su víctima, Y la boca lisonjera empuja hacia el precipicio.

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