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Similitudes, Instructions

¹ Like snow in summer and like ^(C1)rain in harvest,
So honor is not ^(C2)fitting for a shortsighted ^(F1)fool. ^(VR1)

² Like the ^(C1)sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,
So the ^(C2)curse without cause does not come and alight on the undeserving. ^(VR1)

³ A ^(C1)whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a ^(C2)rod for the backs of fools who refuse to learn.

^4 (C1)Do not answer nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of a closed-minded fool according to his folly,
Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.

^5 (C1)Answer and correct the erroneous concepts of a fool according to his folly,
Otherwise he will be ^(C2)wise in his own eyes if he thinks you agree with him. ^(VR1)

⁶ He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence it brings on himself as a consequence. ^(VR1)

⁷ Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool who cannot learn from its wisdom.

⁸ Like one who absurdly binds a stone in a sling making it impossible to throw,
So is he who absurdly gives honor to a fool.

⁹ Like a thorn that goes without being felt into the hand of a drunken man,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool who remains unaffected by its wisdom.

¹⁰ Like a careless archer who shoots arrows wildly and wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or those who by chance just pass by.

¹¹ Like ^(C1)a dog that returns to his vomit
Is a fool who ^(C2)repeats his foolishness.

¹² Do you see a man who is unteachable and ^(C1)wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit?
^(C2)There is more hope for a fool than for him. ^(VR1)

¹³ The ^(C1)lazy person who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses says, "There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square and if I go outside to work I will be killed!" ^(VR1)

¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the ^(C1)lazy person on his bed never getting out of it.

¹⁵ The ^(C1)lazy person buries his hand in the dish losing opportunity after opportunity;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. ^(VR1)

¹⁶ The lazy person is ^(C1)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven sensible men who can give a discreet answer.

¹⁷ Like one who grabs a dog by the ears and is likely to be bitten
Is he who, passing by, stops to meddle with a ^(C1)dispute that is none of his business.

¹⁸ Like a madman who throws
^(C1)Firebrands, arrows, and death,

¹⁹ So is the man who ^(C1)deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend)
And then says, "^(C2)Was I not joking?" ^(VR1)

²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no ^(C1)whisperer who gossips, ^(C2)contention quiets down.

²¹ Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a ^(C1)contentious man to kindle strife. ^(VR1)

²² The ^(C1)words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels to be greedily eaten;
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body to be remembered and mused upon. ^(VR1)

²³ Like a common clay ^(C1)vessel covered with the silver ^(C2)dross making it appear silver when it has no real value
Are burning lips murmuring manipulative words and a wicked heart.

²⁴ He who ^(C1)hates, disguises it with his lips,
But he stores up ^(C2)deceit in his heart.

²⁵ When he ^(C1)speaks graciously and kindly to conceal his malice, do not trust him,
For seven abominations are in his heart.

²⁶ Though his hatred ^(C1)covers itself with guile and deceit,
His malevolence will be ^(C2)revealed openly before the assembly.

²⁷ Whoever ^(C1)digs a pit for another man's feet will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone up a hill to do mischief, it will come back on him. ^(VR1)

²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes,
And a ^(C1)flattering mouth works ruin.