26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by flitting, as the swallow by flying,
so the curse without cause will not alight.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off the feet and drinks violence.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal;
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The great God who formed all things
rewards the fool and rewards the transgressor.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool returns to his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The slothful man says, “There is a lion in the way!
A lion is in the streets!”
14 As the door turns upon his hinges,
so does the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful buries his hand in his bowl;
it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
than seven men who can answer reasonably.
17 He who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him
is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casts
firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor,
and says, “I was only joking.”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
and go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart
are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates dissembles with his lips,
and lays up deceit within him;
25 when he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred is covered by deceit,
his wickedness will be shown before the whole congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those who are afflicted by it,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.