The Latin Vulgate VUL
English Standard Version ESV
1 quomodo nix aestate et pluvia in messe sic indecens est stulto gloria
1
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 sicut avis ad alia transvolans et passer quolibet vadens sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet
2
Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 flagellum equo et camus asino et virga dorso inprudentium
3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 ne respondeas stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne efficiaris ei similis
4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
5 responde stulto iuxta stultitiam suam ne sibi sapiens esse videatur
5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 claudus pedibus et iniquitatem bibens qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum
6
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola
7
Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem
8
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
9 quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti sic parabola in ore stultorum
9
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 iudicium determinat causas et qui inponit stulto silentium iras mitigat
10
Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
11 sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum sic inprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam
11
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri magis illo spem habebit stultus
12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 dicit piger leaena in via leo in itineribus
13
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets! ”
14 sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo ita piger in lectulo suo
14
As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 abscondit piger manus sub ascellas suas et laborat si ad os suum eas converterit
15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16 sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias
16
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17 sicut qui adprehendit auribus canem sic qui transit et inpatiens commiscetur rixae alterius
17
Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18 sicut noxius est qui mittit lanceas et sagittas et mortem
18
Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
19 sic vir qui fraudulenter nocet amico suo et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit ludens feci
19
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking! ”
20 cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis et susurrone subtracto iurgia conquiescunt
20
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21 sicut carbones ad prunam et ligna ad ignem sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas
21
As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 verba susurronis quasi simplicia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris
22
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata
23
Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos
24
Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
25 quando submiserit vocem suam ne credideris ei quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius
25
when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 qui operit odium fraudulenter revelabitur malitia eius in concilio
26
though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum
27
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28 lingua fallax non amat veritatem et os lubricum operatur ruinas
28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025