Proverbs - The Old Testament

¹ Snow no more befits the summer, nor rain the harvest-time, than honours befit a fool.

² As the sparrow escapes, and the swallow flies away, so the undeserved curse will never hit its mark.

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and for the backs of fools, a stick.

⁴ Do not answer a fool in the terms of his folly for fear you grow like him yourself.

⁵ Answer a fool in the terms of his folly for fear he imagine himself wise.

⁶ He wounds himself, he takes violence for his drink, who sends a message by a fool.

⁷ Unreliable as the legs of the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

⁸ As well tie the stone to the sling as pay honour to a fool.

⁹ A thorn branch in a drunkard's hand, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ An archer wounding everyone, such is he who hires the passing fool and drunkard.

¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool reverts to his folly.

¹² You see someone who thinks himself wise? More to be hoped for from a fool than from him!

¹³ 'A wild beast on the road!' says the idler, 'a lion in the streets!'

¹⁴ The door turns on its hinges, the idler on his bed.

¹⁵ Into the dish the idler dips his hand, but is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁶ The idler thinks himself wiser than seven people who answer with discretion.

¹⁷ He takes a stray dog by the ears, who meddles in someone else's quarrel.

¹⁸ Like a madman hurling firebrands, arrows and death,

¹⁹ so is anyone who lies to a companion and then says, 'Aren't I amusing?'

²⁰ No wood, and the fire goes out; no slanderer, and quarrelling dies down.

²¹ Charcoal for live embers, wood for fire, and the quarrelsome for kindling strife.

²² The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the belly.

²³ Base silver-plate on top of clay: such are fervent lips and a wicked heart.

²⁴ Whoever hates may hide it in speech, but deep within lies treachery;

²⁵ do not trust such a person's pretty speeches, since in the heart lurk seven abominations.

²⁶ Hatred may disguise itself with guile, to reveal its wickedness later in the assembly.

²⁷ Whoever digs a pit falls into it, the stone comes back on him that rolls it.

²⁸ The lying tongue hates its victims, the wheedling mouth causes ruin.