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Similitudes and Instructions

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

² Like a ^(C1)sparrow in its ^(F1)flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a ^(C2)curse without cause does not come to rest.

³ A ^(C1)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a ^(C2)rod for the back of fools.

^4 (C1)Do not answer a fool ^(F1)according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.

^5 (C1)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be ^(C2)wise in his own eyes.

⁶ One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.

⁷ Like ^(F1)useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

⁸ Like ^(F1)one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.

⁹ Like a thorn that ^(F1)sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

^10 (F1)Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.

¹¹ Like ^(C1)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who ^(C2)repeats ^(F1)his foolishness.

¹² Do you see a person ^(C1)wise in his own eyes?
^(C2)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

^13 (F1)A ^(C1)lazy one says, "There is a lion on the road!
A lion is ^(F2)in the public square!"

¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges,
So does a ^(C1)lazy one on his bed.

¹⁵ A ^(C1)lazy one buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

¹⁶ A lazy one is ^(C1)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven people who can ^(F1)give a discreet answer.

¹⁷ Like one who takes a dog by the ears,
So is one who passes by and ^(F1)meddles with ^(C1)strife not belonging to him.

¹⁸ Like a maniac who shoots
^(C1)Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,

¹⁹ So is a person who ^(C1)deceives his neighbor,
And says, "^(C2)Was I not joking?"

²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no ^(C1)gossiper, ^(C2)quarreling quiets down.

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

²² The ^(C1)words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the ^(F1)innermost parts of the body.

²³ Like an earthenware ^(C1)vessel overlaid with silver ^(F1)(C2)impurities
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

²⁴ One who ^(C1)hates disguises it with his lips,
But he harbors ^(C2)deceit in his ^(F1)heart.

²⁵ When ^(F1)he ^(C1)speaks graciously, do not believe him,
Because there are seven abominations in his heart.

²⁶ Though his hatred ^(C1)covers itself with deception,
His wickedness will be ^(C2)revealed in the assembly.

²⁷ One who ^(C1)digs a pit will fall into it,
And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates ^(F1)those it crushes,
And a ^(C1)flattering mouth works ruin.