1 In a fool is honour as unbecoming
as snow in summer or rain in harvest.
2 Like the aimless flight of a sparrow or swallow,
the curse that is baseless does not come home.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool as beseems his folly,
in case you, too, become like him.
5 Answer a fool as beseems his folly,
lest he fancy himself to be wise.
6 To send a fool with a message
is to cut off one's feet and to drink disaster.
7 Like the limp legs of the lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like a bundle of jewels on a heap of stones
is honour conferred on a fool.
9 Like a thorn-stick brandished by a drunken man
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 All fools must suffer sore anguish of body.
and their insolence will be shattered.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit,
a fool repeats his folly.
12 If you see a man who thinks himself wise,
there is far more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The lazy man saith, “There's a lion on the road,
there's a lion on the street.”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
so the lazy man in his bed.
15 The lazy man buries his hand in the dish —
too weary to carry it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy man thinks himself wiser
than seven who can answer discreetly.
17 To mix in a quarrel not your own
is to catch a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who hurls about
deadly fire-brands and arrows,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbour
and says that he did it in jest.
20 In the absence of wood the fire goes out.
In the absence of slander contention ceases.
21 As charcoal to embers or wood to fire
is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Slanderous words are like dainty morsels,
down they glide to the innermost being.
23 Like a sherd overlaid with silver slag
is a wicked heart with glowing lips.
24 With his lips one who hates you dissembles.
but he cherishes guile in his heart.
25 When he speaks you fair, trust him not:
in his heart lurk hateful things seven.
36 One who veils his hatred with guile
has his malice uncovered in public.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it;
he who rolls a stone gets it back upon him,
28 A false tongue brings destruction;
a flattering mouth works ruin.