1 L ike snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

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

2 L ike a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.

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 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

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

4 D on’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

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

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

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

6 O ne who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

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

7 L ike the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

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

8 A s one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

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

9 L ike a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

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 A s an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

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

11 A s a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.

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 wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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

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

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

14 A s the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.

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

15 T he sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

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

16 T he sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

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

17 L ike one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

He 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 madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,

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

19 i s the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”

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

20 F or lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

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

21 A s coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

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

22 T he words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.

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 L ike silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

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

24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.

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

25 W hen his speech is charming, don’t believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

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

26 H is malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

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

27 W hoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

He 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 hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

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