ECB(i)
1 As snow in summer; as rain in harvest; thus honor befits not a fool:
2 As the bird by wandering; as the swallow by flying; thus abasing comes not gratuitously.
3 A whip for the horse; a bit for the he burro; and a scion for the back of a fool.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly lest you also be likened to him - even you;
5 answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends word by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet and drinks violence.
7 The legs of the lame languish; as a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 As he who bundles a stone in a stoneheap thus he who gives honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn ascends into the hand of the intoxicated thus a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 Great is the whirler of all; he hires the fool and hires transgressors.
11 As a dog returns to his vomit, thus a fool repeats his folly.
12 See a man wise in his own eyes? More hope of a fool than of him.
13 The sloth says, A roaring lion in the way - a lion in the broadways.
14 As the door turns on its hinge, thus the sloth on his bed.
15 The sloth hides his hand in his bosom; it wearies him to return it to his mouth.
16 The sloth is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who return taste.
17 He who passes by and meddles with strife not his, is as one upholding a dog by the ears:
18 as the rabid who shoot fiery darts, arrows and death,
19 thus the man who deceives his friend and says, Am I not laughing?
20 Where the final timber is, the fire goes out; thus where no whisperer is, the strife subsides.
21 As coals to coals, and timber to fire; thus a contentious man to scorch strife.
22 The words of a whisperer inflame; and they descend into the chambers of the belly.
23 Inflamed lips and an evil heart are as a potsherd overlaid with silver dross.
24 He who hates is recognized by his lips and places deceit within him;
25 when his voice grants charism, trust him not; for there are seven abhorrences in his heart;
26 whose hatred is covered by deceit, exposes his evil in front of the congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit of ruin, falls therein; and whoever rolls a stone, it returns on him.
28 A false tongue hates whom it oppresses; and a smooth mouth works overthrow.