¹ Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool. ² Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a curse without cause does not alight. ³ A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the back of fools. ⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him. ⁵ Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes. ⁶ He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. ⁷ Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ⁸ Like one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool. ⁹ Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. ¹¹ Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly. ¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him. ¹³ The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square!” ¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the sluggard on his bed. ¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can give a discreet answer. ¹⁷ Like one who takes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. ¹⁸ Like a madman who throws
Firebrands, arrows and death, ¹⁹ So is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, “Was I not joking?” ²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. ²¹ Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife. ²² The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. ²³ Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross
Are burning lips and a wicked heart. ²⁴ He who hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up deceit in his heart. ²⁵ When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. ²⁷ He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.