1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. 2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. 6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. 7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. 9Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. 12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” 14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. 15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. 16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death 19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. 21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent⚓ lips with an evil heart. 24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. 25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. 26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. 28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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1As snow in summer ⚓and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. 2Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So ⚓a curse without cause shall not alight. 3⚓A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back. 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. 5⚓Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. 6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off hisown feet and drinks violence. 7Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. 9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 10The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. 11⚓As a dog returns to his own vomit, ⚓So a fool repeats his folly. 12⚓Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? Thereis more hope for a fool than for him. 13The lazy man says, “Thereis a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” 14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. 15The ⚓lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. 16The lazy manis wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. 17He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Islike one who takes a dog by the ears. 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 19Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, ⚓“I was only joking!” 20Where thereis no wood, the fire goes out; And where thereis no talebearer, strife ceases. 21⚓As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. 23Fervent lips with a wicked heart Arelike earthenware covered with silver dross. 24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; 25⚓When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For thereare seven abominations in his heart; 26Thoughhis hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. 27⚓Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. 28A lying tongue hates thosewhoare crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ⚓ruin.