1  Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor is ^lnot fitting for a fool.

2  Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

a curse that is causeless does not alight.

3  ^mA whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and ⁿa rod for the back of fools.

4  ^oAnswer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

5  Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6  Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7  ^pLike a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8  Like one who binds the stone in the sling

is one who gives honor to a fool.

9  Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10  Like an archer who wounds everyone

is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.¹

11  ^qLike a dog that returns to his vomit

is a fool who repeats his folly.

12  Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?

^rThere is more hope for a fool than for him.

13  ^sThe sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

There is a lion in the streets!”

14  As a door turns on its hinges,

so does a sluggard on his bed.

15  ^tThe sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16  The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who can answer sensibly.