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

² As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless does not come.

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

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or else you will also be like him.⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, Or else he will be wise in his own eyes.

⁶ He that sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off [his own] feet, [and] drinks crime.⁷ [As] the legs hang loose from a cripple: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.⁸ As one that binds a stone in a sling, So is he that gives honor to a fool.⁹ [As] a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ [As] an archer that wounds all, So is he that hires a fool and he that hires those that pass by.

¹¹ As a dog that returns to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeats his folly.

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

¹³ The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.

¹⁴ [As] the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.

¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.

¹⁷ He that passes by, [and] vexes himself with strife not belonging to him, Is [like] one that takes a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ As a lunatic who casts firebrands, Arrows, and death,¹⁹ So is the man that deceives his neighbor, And says, Am I not joking?

²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.²¹ [As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.²² The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.

²³ Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

²⁴ He that hates dissembles with his lips; But he lays up deceit inside him:²⁵ When he speaks fair, don't believe him; For there are seven disgusting things in his heart:²⁶ Though [his] hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.

²⁷ Whoever digs a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolls a stone, it shall return on him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded; And a flattering mouth works ruin.