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

27 ¹Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. ²Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. ³A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. ⁴Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? ⁵Open rebuke is better than secret love. ⁶Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. ⁷The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. ⁸As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. ⁹Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. ¹⁰Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. ¹¹My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. ¹²A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. ¹³Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. ¹⁴He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. ¹⁵A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. ¹⁶Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. ¹⁷Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. ¹⁸Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. ¹⁹As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. ²⁰Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. ²¹As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. ²²Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. ²³Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. ²⁴For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? ²⁵The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. ²⁶The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. ²⁷And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

28 ¹The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. ²For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. ³A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. ⁴They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. ⁵Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. ⁶Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. ⁷Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. ⁸He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. ⁹He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. ¹⁰Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession. ¹¹The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. ¹²When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. ¹³He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. ¹⁴Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. ¹⁵As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. ¹⁶The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. ¹⁷A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him. ¹⁸Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. ¹⁹He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. ²⁰A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. ²¹To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. ²²He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. ²³He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. ²⁴Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer. ²⁵He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. ²⁶He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. ²⁷He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. ²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.