1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, v
honor is inappropriate for a fool. w
2 Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, x
an undeserved curse goes nowhere. y
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, z
and a rod for the backs of fools. a
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness b
or you’ll be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness c
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes. d
6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand e
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. f
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.
is like binding a stone in a sling.
9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by A the hand of a drunkard.
10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by
is like an archer who wounds everyone.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so also a fool repeats his foolishness. g
12 Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? h
There is more hope for a fool than for him. i
13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—
a lion in the public square! ” j
14 A door turns on its hinges,
and a slacker, on his bed. k
15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he is too weary to bring it to his mouth! l
16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser m
than seven who can answer sensibly.
17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his
is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows, n
19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking! ”
20 Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down. o
21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. p
22 A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being. B,q
23 Smooth C lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel. r
24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech
and harbors deceit within.
25 When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven detestable things in his heart. s
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever rolls a stone—
it will come back on him. t
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.