1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
1夏天落雪，收割時下雨，都不相宜；愚昧人得尊榮也是如此。
2Like a sparrow in [its] flitting, like a swallow in [its] flying, So a curse without cause does not alight.
2麻雀往來，燕子翻飛；這樣，無故的咒詛也必不臨到。
3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
3鞭子是為打馬，轡頭是為勒驢；刑杖是為打愚昧人的背。
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.
4不要照愚昧人的愚妄話回答他，恐怕你與他一樣。
5Answer a fool as his folly [deserves], That he not be wise in his own eyes.
5要照愚昧人的愚妄話回答他，免得他自以為有智慧。
6He cuts off [his own] feet [and] drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
6藉愚昧人手寄信的，是砍斷自己的腳，自受（原文是：喝）損害。
7[Like] the legs [which] are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
7瘸子的腳空存無用；箴言在愚昧人的口中也是如此。
8Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
8將尊榮給愚昧人的，好像人把石子包在機弦裡。
9[Like] a thorn [which] falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
9箴言在愚昧人的口中，好像荊棘刺入醉漢的手。
10[Like] an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
10雇愚昧人的，與雇過路人的，就像射傷眾人的弓箭手。
11Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.
11愚昧人行愚妄事，行了又行，就如狗轉過來吃他所吐的。
12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
12你見自以為有智慧的人麼？愚昧人比他更有指望。
13The sluggard says, 'There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!'
13懶惰人說：道上有猛獅，街上有壯獅。
14[As] the door turns on its hinges, So [does] the sluggard on his bed.
14門在樞紐轉動，懶惰人在床上也是如此。
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
15懶惰人放手在盤子裡，就是向口撤回也以為勞乏。
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
16懶惰人看自己比七個善於應對的人更有智慧。
17[Like] one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by [and] meddles with strife not belonging to him.
17過路被事激動，管理不干己的爭競，好像人揪住狗耳。
18Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death,
18人欺凌鄰舍，卻說：我豈不是戲耍麼？他就像瘋狂的人拋擲火把、利箭，與殺人的兵器（原文是死亡）。
19So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, 'Was I not joking?'
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20For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
20火缺了柴就必熄滅；無人傳舌，爭競便止息。
21[Like] charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
21好爭競的人煽惑爭端，就如餘火加炭，火上加柴一樣。
22The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
22傳舌人的言語，如同美食，深入人的心腹。
23[Like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
23火熱的嘴，奸惡的心，好像銀渣包的瓦器。
24He who hates disguises [it] with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart.
24怨恨人的，用嘴粉飾，心裡卻藏著詭詐；
25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
25他用甜言蜜語，你不可信他，因為他心中有七樣可憎惡的。
26[Though his] hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
26他雖用詭詐遮掩自己的怨恨，他的邪惡必在會中顯露。
27He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
27挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；滾石頭的，石頭必反滾在他身上。
28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.
28虛謊的舌恨他所壓傷的人；諂媚的口敗壞人的事。