[1] Like snow in the summer or rain at harvest, so honor isn’t appropriate for a fool. [2] Like a darting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so an undeserved curse never arrives. [3] A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. [4] Don’t answer fools according to their folly, or you will become like them yourself. [5] Answer fools according to their folly, or they will deem themselves wise. [6] Sending messages with a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking down violence. [7] As legs dangle from a disabled person, so does a proverb in the mouth of fools. [8] Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving respect to a fool. [9] Like a thorny bush in the hand of a drunk, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. [10] Like an archer who wounds someone randomly, so is one who hires a fool or a passerby. [11] Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats foolish mistakes. [12] Do you see people who consider themselves wise? There is more hope for a fool than for them. [13] A lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the path! A lion in the plazas!” [14] As a door turns on its hinge, so do lazy people in their beds. [15] Lazy people bury their hand into the bowl, too tired to return it to their mouth. [16] Lazy people think they are wiser than seven people who answer sensibly. [17] Like yanking the ears of a dog, so is one who passes by and gets involved in another person’s fight. [18] Like a crazy person shooting deadly flaming arrows [19] are those who deceive their neighbor and say, “Hey, I was only joking!” [20] Without wood a fire goes out; without gossips, conflict calms down. [21] Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire, quarrelsome people kindle strife. [22] The words of gossips are like choice snacks; they go down to the inmost parts. [23] Smooth lips and an evil heart are like silver coating on clay. [24] Hateful people mislead with their lips, keeping their deception within. [25] Though they speak graciously, don’t believe them, for seven horrible things are in their heart. [26] They may cover their hatred with trickery, but their evil will be revealed in public. [27] Those who dig a pit will fall in it; those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them. [28] A lying tongue hates those it crushes; a flattering mouth causes destruction.
