1 A s snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour not comely for a fool.

2 A s a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.

3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

4 A nswer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou.

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

6 H e is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

7 W eak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 A s one who is binding a stone in a sling, So he who is giving honour to a fool.

9 A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 G reat the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.

11 A s a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.

12 T hou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!

13 T he slothful hath said, `A lion in the way, A lion in the broad places.'

14 T he door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.

15 T he slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.

16 W iser the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven returning a reason.

17 L aying hold on the ears of a dog, a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.

18 A s pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

19 S o hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?'

20 W ithout wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,

21 C oal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

22 T he words of a tale-bearer as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down the inner parts of the heart.

23 S ilver of dross spread over potsherd, burning lips and an evil heart.

24 B y his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,

25 W hen his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations in his heart.

26 H atred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.

27 W hoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.

28 A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!