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

² As the wandering bird, as the swallow in its flying, so the causeless curse shall never come.

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 foolishness, lest you become like him, even you.⁵ Answer a fool according to his foolishness, that he not be wise in his own eyes.

⁶ He that sends a message by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.⁷ As the legs of the lame are weak, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.⁸ As he binding a stone on a sling, so is he giving honor to a fool.⁹ As a thorn goes up into the drunkard's hand, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ Great is the Former of all things, but he who hires a fool is like one who hires those passing by.

¹¹ As a dog that returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.

¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ The lazy one says, A lion is in the way, a lion is between the streets!

¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinge, so is the lazy one on his bed.

¹⁵ The lazy one buries his hand in the dish; he is weary to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁶ The lazy one is wiser in his own eyes than seven that return a wise answer.

¹⁷ One passing by, crossing himself over strife that is not his own, is like one who grabs a dog's ears.

¹⁸ As one feigning weakness, throwing sparks, arrows and death,¹⁹ so is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, Am I not joking?

²⁰ The fire goes out where there is no wood, so the strife ceases where there is no whisperer.²¹ As coal to burning embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.²² The words of a whisperer are as delicacies, and they go down into the chambers of the heart.

²³ As with silver dross spread over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips and a wicked heart.

²⁴ He who hates, dissembles with his lips, for he lays up deceit in his inner being;²⁵ when his voice is gracious, do not believe him, for he has seven hateful things in his heart.²⁶ Though his hatred is covered by guile, his evil shall be revealed in the assembly.

²⁷ He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who rolls a stone shall have it turn back on him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates the ones it crushes, and a flattering mouth works stumbling.