| 1 ¶ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
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| 2 ¶ As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
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| 3 ¶ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
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| 4 ¶ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
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| 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.1
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| 6 ¶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.2
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| 7 The legs of the lame are3 not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
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| 8 As he that bindeth4 a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
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| 9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
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| 10 ¶ The great5 God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
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| 11 ¶ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.6
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| 12 ¶ Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
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| 13 ¶ The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
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| 14 ¶ As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
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| 15 ¶ The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth7 him to bring it again to his mouth.
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| 16 ¶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
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| 17 ¶ He that passeth by, and meddleth8 with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
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| 18 ¶ As a mad man who casteth firebrands,9 arrows, and death,
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| 19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
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| 20 ¶ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no10 talebearer,11 the strife ceaseth.12
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| 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
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| 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost13 parts of the belly.
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| 23 ¶ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
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| 24 ¶ He that hateth dissembleth14 with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
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| 25 When he speaketh15 fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
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| 26 Whose hatred is covered by16 deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
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| 27 ¶ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
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| 28 ¶ A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
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