1Like as snow is not mete in summer, nor rain in harvest: even so is worship unseemly for a fool.
2Like as the bird, and the swallow take their flight and flee here and there, so the curse that is given in vain, shall not light upon a man.
3Unto the horse belongeth a whip, to the Ass a bridle, and a rod to the fool's back.
4Give not the fool an answer after his foolishness, lest thou become like unto him:
5but make the fool an answer to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6He is lame of his feet, yea drunken is he in vanity, that committeth anything to a fool.
7Like as it is an unseemly thing to have legs and yet to halt, even so is a parable in the fool's mouth.
8He that setteth a fool in high dignity, that is even as if a man did cast a precious stone upon the galous.
9A parable in a fools mouth is like a thorn that pricketh a drunken man in the hand.
10A man of experience discerneth all things well, but whoso hireth a fool, hireth such one as will take no heed.
11Like as the dog turneth again to his vomit, even so a fool beginneth his foolishness again afresh.
12If thou seest a man that is wise in his own conceit, there is more hope in a fool than in him.
13The slothful sayeth: There is a leopard in the way, and a lion in the middest of the streets.
14Like as the door turneth about upon the threshold, even so doth the slothful welter himself in his bed.
15The slothful body thrusteth his hand into his bosom, and it grieveth him to put it again to his mouth.
16The sluggard thinketh himself wiser, than seven men that sit and teach.
17Who so goeth by and meddleth with other men's strife, he is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18Like as one shooteth deadly arrows and darts out of a privy place, even so doth a dissembler with his neighbour.
19And then sayeth he: I did it but in sport.
20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: and where the backbiter is taken away, there the strife ceaseth.
21Coals kindle heat, and wood the fire: even so doth a brawling fellow stir up variance.
22A slanderer's words are like flattery, but they pierce the inward parts of the body.
23Venomous lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24An enemy dissembleth with his lips, and in the mean season he imagineth mischief:
25but when he speaketh fair, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26Who so keepeth evil will, secretly to do hurt, his malice shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27Who so diggeth up a pit, shall fall therein: and he that weltereth a stone, shall stumble upon it himself.
28A dissembling tongue hateth one that rebuketh him, and a flattering mouth worketh mischief.