| 1 | As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool. |
| 2 | As 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 | Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him—even thou. |
| 5 | Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. |
| 6 | He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool. |
| 7 | Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools. |
| 8 | As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] 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 | Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors. |
| 11 | As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly. |
| 12 | Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him! |
| 13 | The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.' |
| 14 | The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed. |
| 15 | The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth. |
| 16 | Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason. |
| 17 | Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own. |
| 18 | As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death, |
| 19 | So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?' |
| 20 | Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth, |
| 21 | Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife. |
| 22 | The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart. |
| 23 | Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart. |
| 24 | By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit, |
| 25 | When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart. |
| 26 | Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly. |
| 27 | Whoso 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! |