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¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

² As the wandering sparrow, as the flying swallow, so the curse that is causeless shall come home.

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage.⁷ The legs hang limp from the lame; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.⁸ As a small stone in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.⁹ As a thorn that cometh into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ A master performeth all things; but he that stoppeth a fool is as one that stoppeth a flood.

¹¹ As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is a fool that repeateth his folly.

¹² Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³ The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion in the way; yea, a lion is in the streets.'

¹⁴ The door is turning upon its hinges, and the sluggard is still upon his bed.

¹⁵ The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth him to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that give wise answer.

¹⁷ He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife not his own, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith: 'Am not I in sport?'

²⁰ Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. ²² The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

²³ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him.²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.²⁶ Though his hatred be concealed with deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the congregation.

²⁷ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.