On Fools

1Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time,

so honor is inappropriate for a fool.

2Like a fluttering sparrow

or a swallow in flight,

a curse without cause will not alight.

3A whip is for the horses,

a bridle is for the donkey,

a rod is for the back of fools.

4Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness,

or you will be just like him.

5Answer a fool according to his foolishness,

or he will think himself to be wise.

6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his owna feet and drinks violence.

7Useless legs to the lame—

that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.

8Tying a stone to a sling—

that’s what giving honor to a fool is.

9A thorn in the hand of a drunkard—

that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.

10An archer who shoots at anyone—

is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.

11A dog that returns to its vomit

is like a fool who reverts to his folly.

12Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion?

There’s more hope for a fool than for him.

On Laziness

13The lazy person claims, “There is a lion in the road!

There’s a lion in the streets!”

14The door turns on its hinges—

as does the lazy person on his bed.

15The lazy person buries his hand in the dish,

but he’s too tired to bring it to his mouth again.

16The lazy person is wiser in his own opinion

than seven men who can give an appropriate response.

17Picking up a dog by the ears—

that’s what someone is like whob meddles in another’s fight.

18Like the maniac who shoots

fiery darts and deadly arrows—

19that’s what someone is like who lies to his neighbor

and then says, “I was joking, wasn’t I?”

On Gossip and Backbiting

20Without wood, the fire goes out.

Without a gossip, contention stops.

21Charcoal is to hot coals

as wood is to fire;

so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife.

22The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels;

they sink down deep within.

23A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver—

that’s what smoothc lips with a wicked heart are.

24Someone who hates hides behind his words,

harboring deceit within himself.

25Though he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,

for there are seven detestable things in his heart.

26Though malice disguises itself with deception,

its evil will be exposed publicly.

27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and the stone will come back

on whoever starts it rolling.

28A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth causes ruin.