1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honour is not fitting for a fool.

2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

a curse that is causeless does not alight.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,

and a rod for the back of fools.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

5Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8Like one who binds the stone in the sling

is he who gives honour to a fool.

9Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10Like an archer who wounds everybody

is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.26.10 The Hebrew text of this verse is uncertain

1126.11: 2 Pet 2.22.Like a dog that returns to his vomit

is a fool that repeats his folly.

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

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

There is a lion in the streets!”

14As a door turns on its hinges,

so does a sluggard on his bed.

15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who can answer discreetly.

17He who meddles in a quarrel not his own

is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

18Like a madman who throws firebrands,

arrows, and death,

19is the man who deceives his neighbour

and says, “I am only joking!”

20For lack of wood the fire goes out;

and where there is no whisperer, quarrelling ceases.

21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23Like the glaze26.23 Cn: Heb silver of dross covering an earthen vessel

are smooth26.23 Gk: Heb burning lips with an evil heart.

24He who hates, dissembles with his lips

and harbours deceit in his heart;

25when he speaks graciously, believe him not,

for there are seven abominations in his heart;

26though his hatred be covered with guile,

his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27He who digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling.

28A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.