1
Like snow in summer or 1rain in harvest, so 2honor is 3not fitting for a fool.
2
Like 4a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, 5a curse that is causeless does not alight.
3
6A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and 7a rod for the back of fools.
4
8Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
5
9Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be 10wise in his own eyes.
6
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and 11drinks violence.
7
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is 12one who gives honor to a fool.
9
Like 13a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10
Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
11
Like 14a dog that returns to his vomit is 15a fool who repeats his folly.
12
Do you see a man who is 16wise in his own eyes? 17There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13
18The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
14
As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15
19The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16
The sluggard is 20wiser in his own eyes 21than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17
Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.