1 Similitudes, Instructions Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted]See note 1:7.fool.
2 Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,So the curse without cause does not comeandalight [on the undeserving].
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].
4 Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly,Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.
5 Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly,Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him].
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a foolCuts offhis ownfeet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence].
7 Like the legs which are useless to the lame,So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].
8 Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw],So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man,So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].
10 Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone,So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomitIs a fool who repeats his foolishness.
12 Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyesandfull of self-conceit?There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, “There is a lion in the road!A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work I will be killed]!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].
15 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity];It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy person is wiser in his own eyesThan seven [sensible] men who can give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears [and is likely to be bitten]Is he who, passing by, stops to meddle with a dispute that is none of his business.
18 Like a madman who throwsFirebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend)And then says, “Was I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].
23 Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value]Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart.
24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips,But he stores up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciouslyandkindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him,For seven abominations are in his heart.
26 Though hishatred covers itself with guileanddeceit,His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it,And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it woundsandcrushes,And a flattering mouth works ruin.