Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest,
    so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying,
    so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the back of fools.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly
    lest you become like him—even you.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,
    so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like binding a stone in a sling,
    so is giving honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like an archer who wounds everyone,
    so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
Like a dog returning to his vomit
    is a fool reverting to his folly.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.
A lazy person says "A lion is in the road!
    A lion among the streets!"
The door turns on its hinge,
    and a lazy person on his bed.
A lazy person buries his hands in the dish;
    he is too tired to return it to his mouth.
A lazy person is wiser in his eyes
    than seven who answer discreetly.
Grabbing onto the ears of a dog
    passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.
Like a maniac who shoots
    firebrands, arrows, and death,
so is a man who deceives his neighbor,
    but says "Am I not joking?"
For lack of wood, a fire goes out,
    and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire,
    so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels,
    and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
Like impure silver which overlays an earthen vessel,
    so are smooth lips and an evil heart.
On his lips, an enemy will pretend,
    but inside he will harbor deceit.
When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him,
    for seven abominations are in his heart.
Though hatred is covered with guile,
    its evil will be exposed in the assembly.
He who digs a pit, in it he will fall,
    and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back.
A tongue of deceit hates its victim,
    and a flattering mouth makes ruin.

Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what the day will bring.
May another praise you and not your own mouth,
    a stranger and not your own lips.
Heavy is a stone and weighty is sand,
    but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
Cruel is wrath and overwhelming is anger,
    but who will stand before jealousy?
Better a rebuke that is open
    than a love that is hidden.
The wounds of a friend mean well,
    but the kisses of an enemy are profane.
An appetite that is sated spurns honey,
    but to an appetite that is ravenous, all bitterness is sweet.
Like a bird that strays from its nest,
    so is a man who strays from his place.
Perfume and incense will gladden a heart,
    and the pleasantness of one’s friend is personal advice.
As for your friend and a friend of your father, do not forsake them,
    and the house of your brother, do not enter on the day of your calamity.
    Better is a close neighbor than a distant brother.
Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
    and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.
When the clever sees danger, he hides;
    the simple go on and suffer.
Take his garment, for he gives surety to a stranger,
    and to an adulteress—so take his pledge.
He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice
    early in the morning,
    a curse will be reckoned to him.
Dripping constantly on a day of heavy rain
    and a woman of contention are alike.
In restraining her, he restrains wind,
    and his right hand will grasp oil.
As iron sharpens iron,
    so one man sharpens another.
He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and he who guards his master will be honored.
As the waters reflect face to face,
    so the heart of a person reflects the person.
Sheol and Abaddon will not be satisfied,
    and the eyes of a person will not be satisfied either.
A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace for the gold,
    but a man is tested by the mouth of him who praises him.
If you crush a fool in the mortar with the pestle along with the crushed grain,
    it will not drive folly from upon him.
You will surely know the condition of your flock;
    your heart attends to the herds.
For riches are not forever,
    nor a crown for generation after generation.
When the grass is gone, then green growth will appear,
    and the herbs of the mountains will be gathered.
Lambs will be your clothing,
    and goats the price of the field.
And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
    for the food of your household and the nourishment of your maidservants.

The wicked flee, but no one pursues,
    but the righteous is bold like a lion.
By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase,
    but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,
    but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
Men of evil do not understand justice,
    but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.
Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity
    than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.
He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
    but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury
    gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
He who turns his ear from listening to instruction,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
He who misleads the upright onto the way of evil,
    into his pits he will fall.
    But as for the blameless, they will inherit good.
A man of wealth is wise in his own eyes,
    but the intelligent poor sees through him.
When the righteous triumphs, great is the glory,
    but with the rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.
He who conceals his transgression will not prosper,
    but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.
Happy is the person who fears continuously,
    but he who is stubborn of heart, will fall into calamity.
Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but those who hate unjust gain will have long days.
A person who is burdened with the blood of another,
    until death he will flee;
    do not take hold of him.
He who walks in integrity will be safe,
    but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.
He who tills his ground will have plenty bread,
    but he who follows fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
A man of faithfulness has abundant blessings,
    but he who hurries to become rich will not go unpunished.
Showing partiality is not good,
    and over a morsel of bread, a strong man will do wrong.
He who hurries for wealth is a man with an evil eye,
    but he does not know that poverty will come upon him.
He who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
    than he who flatters with the tongue.
He who robs his father and his mother and says, "There is no crime,"
    is partner to a man who corrupts.
The greedy person will stir up strife,
    but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.
For he who gives to the poor, there is no lacking,
    but for he who turns his eyes, there are many curses.
With the rising of the wicked, humankind will be hidden,
    and with their perishing, the righteous will multiply.