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¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, || So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.

² As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, || So reviling without cause does not come.

³ A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, || And a rod for the back of fools.

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly, || Lest you are like to him—even you.⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, || Lest he is wise in his own eyes.

⁶ He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, || Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.⁷ The two legs of the lame have been weak, || And an allegory in the mouth of fools.⁸ As one who is binding a stone in a sling, || So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.⁹ A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, || And an allegory in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ The Former of all [is] great, || And He is rewarding a fool, || And is rewarding transgressors.

¹¹ As a dog has returned to its vomit, || A fool is repeating his folly.

¹² You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, || More hope of a fool than of him!

¹³ The slothful has said, || "A lion [is] in the way, || A lion [is] in the broad places."

¹⁴ The door turns around on its hinge, || And the slothful on his bed.

¹⁵ The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, || He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.

¹⁶ Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, || Than seven [men] returning a reason.

¹⁷ Laying hold on the ears of a dog, || [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.

¹⁸ As [one] pretending to be feeble, || Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,¹⁹ So has a man deceived his neighbor, || And has said, "Am I not playing?"

²⁰ Fire is going out without wood, || And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,²¹ Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, || And a man of contentions to kindle strife.²² The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, || And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

²³ Silver of dross spread over potsherd, || [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.

²⁴ A hater pretends by his lips, || And he places deceit in his heart,²⁵ When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, || For seven abominations [are] in his heart.²⁶ Hatred is covered by deceit, || Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.

²⁷ Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, || And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, || And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!