| 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! |