1As sheleg (snow) in kayitz (summer), and as matar (rain) at katzir (harvest),
so kavod is not fitting for a kesil (fool).

2As the tzippor in its fluttering, as the swallow in its flying,
so the kelelah (curse) without cause shall not alight.

3A shot (whip) for the sus, a bridle for the chamor,
and a shevet for the back of kesilim.

4Answer not a kesil (fool) according to his folly,
lest thou also be like unto him.

5Answer a kesil (fool) according to his folly,
lest he be chacham in his own eyes.

6He that sendeth a message by the yad of a kesil (fool)
cutteth off the raglayim, and drinketh chamas.

7The legs of the pisei'ach (lame man) hang limp;
so is a mashal in the peh (mouth) of kesilim.

8As he that bindeth an even (stone) in a sling,
so is he that giveth kavod to a kesil (fool).

9As a thornbush goeth up into the yad of a shikkor,
so is a mashal in the peh (mouth) of kesilim.

10Like an archer wounding all,
so is he that hireth the kesil (fool), or hireth the passerby.

11As a kelev returneth to his vomit,
so a kesil (fool) returneth to his folly.

12Seest thou an ish chacham in his own eyes?
There is more tikvah (hope) for a kesil (fool) than for him.

13The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) saith, There is a lion in the derech;
an ari is in the rechovot.

14As the delet (door) turneth upon its hinges,
so doth the atzel (sluggard, lazy one) upon his mittah (bed).

15The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) hideth his yad in his dish;
itʼs too tiring to bring it back to his peh (mouth) again.

16The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) is chacham in his own eyes,
more than seven that give an excellent answer.

17He that passeth by, and meddleth in a quarrel that doth not belong to him,
is like one that taketh a kelev by the oznayim.

18As a mad man who shooteth
firebrands, khitzim (arrows), and mavet,

19So is the ish that deceiveth his re'a,
and saith, Am I not just having a laugh?

20Where no wood is, there the eish goeth out;
so where there is no nirgan (gossip, slanderer, talebearer), the strife dieth down.

21As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to eish;
so is a contentious ish to kindle strife.

22The devarim of a nirgan (gossip, slanderer, talebearer) are like tasty morsels,
and they go down into the innermost chambers of the beten.

23Fervent sfatayim (lips) and a lev rah
are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

24He that hateth disguises it with his sfatayim (lips),
and within harboreth mirmah (deceit);

25When he speaketh fair, believe him not;
for there are sheva to'avot in his lev.

26Whose hatred is covered by guile,
yet his wickedness shall be exposed before the whole kahal.

27He who diggeth a shachat (pit) shall fall therein,
and he that rolleth an even (stone),
it will roll back upon him.

28A lashon sheker hateth those that are crushed by it;
and a flattering peh (mouth) worketh ruin.