[1] Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. [2] Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. [3] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! [4] Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. [5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. [6] Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. [7] Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. [8] Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. [9] Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. [10] Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby. [11] As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. [12] Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. [13] The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” [14] As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. [15] The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. [16] The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. [17] Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own. [18] Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, [19] so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” [20] Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. [21] Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. [22] The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. [23] Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. [24] A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. [25] When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. [26] Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. [27] He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. [28] A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
