1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly (fitting; proper) for a fool.

2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow (to approve, commend, accept) by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest youⁱ also be like unto him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6He that send a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, [and] drink damage.

7The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.

8As he that binds a stone in a sling, so [is] he that gives honour to a fool.

9[As] a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.

10The great [God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]] that formed all [things] both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.

11As a dog returns to his vomit, [so] a fool returns to his folly.

12See youⁱ a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.

13The slothful [man] says, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.

14[As] the door turns upon his hinges, so [does] the slothful upon his bed.

15The slothful hides his hand in [his] bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.

16The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

17He that passes by, [and] meddles with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that takes a dog by the ears.

18As a mad [man] who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,

19So [is] the man [that] deceives his neighbour, and says, Am not I in sport?

20Where no wood is, [there] the fire goes out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceases.

21[As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious (loving to quarrel and angrily debate) man to kindle strife.

22The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd (piece of broken pottery) covered with silver dross.

24He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;

25When he speaks fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.

26[Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the [whole] congregation.

27Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him.

28A lying tongue hates [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.