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v1
Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
v2
Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying, so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
v3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
v4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest you become like him—even you.
v5
Answer a fool according to his folly, or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
v6
Like cutting off feet or drinking violence, so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
v7
Like legs that hang limp from a lame person, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
v8
Like binding a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
v9
Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
v10
Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
v11
Like a dog returning to his vomit is a fool reverting to his folly.
v12
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
v13
A lazy person says “A lion is in the road! A lion among the streets!“
v14
The door turns on its hinge, and a lazy person on his bed.
v15
A lazy person buries his hands in the dish; he is too tired to return it to his mouth.
v16
A lazy person is wiser in his eyes than seven who answer discreetly.
v17
Grabbing onto the ears of a dog passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.
v18
Like a maniac who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
v19
so is a man who deceives his neighbor, but says “Am I not joking?“
v20
For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
v21
As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire, so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.
v22
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
v23
Like impure silver ^[Literally “silver of impurities”] which overlays an earthen vessel, so are smooth lips and an evil heart ^[Or “mind”].
v24
On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but inside ^[Literally “in his midst”] he will harbor deceit.
v25
When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations are in his heart.
v26
Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly.
v27
He who digs a pit, in it he will fall, and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back.
v28
A tongue of deceit hates its victim, and a flattering mouth makes ruin.