| | King James | Ostervald | American std | Diodati |
| 1 | As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. | Comme la neige en été, et la pluie pendant la moisson, ainsi la gloire ne convient point à un fou. | As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool. | Come la neve non conviene all'estate né la pioggia alla mietitura, così non conviene la gloria allo stolto. |
| 2 | As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. | Comme l'oiseau s'enfuit, et comme l'hirondelle s'envole, ainsi la malédiction non méritée n'atteindra point. | As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not. | Come il passero svolazza e la rondine vola, così la maledizione senza motivo non ha effetto. |
| 3 | A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. | Le fouet est pour le cheval, le mors pour l'âne, et la verge pour le dos des insensés. | A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools. | La frusta per il cavallo, la briglia per l'asino e il bastone per il dorso degli stolti. |
| 4 | Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. | Ne réponds point au fou selon sa folie, de peur que tu ne lui ressembles toi-même. | Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. | Non rispondere allo stolto secondo la sua stoltezza, per non diventare anche tu come lui. |
| 5 | Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. | Réponds au fou selon sa folie, de peur qu'il ne s'imagine qu'il est sage. | Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit. | Rispondi allo stolto secondo la sua stoltezza, perché non creda di essere saggio. |
| 6 | He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. | Celui qui envoie des messages par un fou, se coupe les pieds, et boit la peine du tort qu'il se fait. | He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage. | Chi manda un messaggio per mezzo di uno stolto si taglia i piedi e beve violenza. |
| 7 | The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. | Comme les jambes de l'impotent sont sans force, ainsi est une sentence dans la bouche d'un insensé. | The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools. | Come le gambe dello zoppo sono malferme, così è un proverbio sulla bocca degli stolti. |
| 8 | As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. | Faire honneur à un insensé, c'est mettre une pierre précieuse dans un monceau de pierres. | As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool. | Chi dà gloria a uno stolto è come chi lega una pietra a una fionda. |
| 9 | As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools. | Un discours sentencieux dans la bouche d'un insensé, est comme une épine dans la main d'un homme ivre. | [As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools. | Un proverbio sulla bocca degli stolti è come una spina che penetra nella mano di un ubriaco. |
| 10 | The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. | Celui qui prend à son service les insensés et les premiers venus, est comme un archer qui blesse tout le monde. | [As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by. | Il grande Dio che ha formato tutte le cose è colui che dà la retribuzione allo stolto e ai trasgressori. |
| 11 | As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. | Comme le chien retourne à ce qu'il a vomi, ainsi l'insensé revient à sa folie. | As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly. | Come un cane ritorna al suo vomito, così lo stolto ripete la sua stoltezza. |
| 12 | Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. | As-tu vu un homme qui croit être sage? Il y a plus à espérer d'un fou que de lui. | Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. | Hai visto un uomo che si crede saggio? C'è maggiore speranza per uno stolto che per lui, |
| 13 | The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. | Le paresseux dit: Le grand lion est dans le chemin; le lion est par les rues. | The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets. | Il pigro dice: C'è un leone nella strada, c'è un leone per le vie!. |
| 14 | As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. | Comme la porte tourne sur ses gonds, le paresseux se tourne sur son lit. | [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed. | Come la porta gira sui suoi cardini, così il pigro sul suo letto. |
| 15 | The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. | Le paresseux plonge la main dans le plat, et il a de la peine à la ramener à sa bouche. | The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth. | Il pigro affonda la sua mano nel piatto, ma si stanca persino a portarla alla bocca, |
| 16 | The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. | Le paresseux se croit plus sage que sept hommes qui savent répondre avec bon sens. | The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason. | Il pigro si crede più saggio di sette persone che danno risposte assennate. |
| 17 | He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. | Celui qui, en passant, se met en colère pour une querelle qui ne le touche en rien, est comme celui qui saisit un chien par les oreilles. | He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears. | Il passante che si immischia in una lite che non lo riguarda, è come chi prende un cane per le orecchie. |
| 18 | As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, | Tel qu'est le furieux qui jette des tisons, des flèches et la mort, | As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death, | Come un pazzo che scaglia tizzoni, frecce e morte, |
| 19 | So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? | Tel est l'homme qui trompe son ami, et qui dit: N'était-ce pas pour jouer? | So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport? | così è colui che inganna il prossimo e dice: Ho fatto per scherzo!. |
| 20 | Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. | Le feu s'éteint faute de bois; ainsi quand il n'y aura plus de rapporteurs, les querelles s'apaiseront. | For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth. | Quando manca la legna, il fuoco si spegne; e quando non c'è maldicente, la disputa cessa. |
| 21 | As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. | Le charbon est pour faire de la braise, et le bois pour faire du feu, et l'homme querelleur pour exciter les querelles. | [As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife. | Come il carbone dà la brace e la legna il fuoco, così l'uomo rissoso attizza le liti. |
| 22 | The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. | Les paroles d'un rapporteur sont comme des friandises; mais elles descendent jusqu'au-dedans des entrailles. | The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts. | Le parole del maldicente sono come cibi squisiti e penetrano fino nell'intimo delle viscere. |
| 23 | Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. | Les lèvres brûlantes et le coeur mauvais, sont comme de l'écume d'argent dont on enduit un pot de terre. | Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. | Labbra ardenti e un cuore malvagio sono come scoria d'argento spalmata sopra un vaso di terra. |
| 24 | He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; | Celui qui hait, dissimule en parlant; mais au-dedans de lui il cache la fraude. | He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him: | Chi odia finge con le sue labbra, ma nel suo intimo cova inganno. |
| 25 | When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. | Quand il parlera gracieusement, ne le crois point; car il y a sept abominations dans son coeur. | When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart: | Quando parla cortesemente non fidarti di lui, perché ha sette abominazioni in cuore. |
| 26 | Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. | La méchanceté de celui qui cache sa haine pour faire du mal, se découvrira dans l'assemblée. | Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly. | Anche se l'odio è nascosto con dissimulazione, la sua malvagità sarà palesata nell'assemblea. |
| 27 | Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. | Celui qui creuse la fosse, y tombera, et la pierre retournera sur celui qui la roule. | Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him. | Chi scava una fossa vi cadrà dentro, e chi rotola una pietra gli ricadrà addosso. |
| 28 | A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. | La langue fausse hait celui qu'elle a abattu, et la bouche qui flatte fait tomber. | A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin. | La lingua bugiarda odia quelli che ha ferito, e la bocca adulatrice produce rovina. |
