Proverbs

1Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,so honour is not fitting for a fool.

2Like a fluttering sparrow,like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.

3A whip is for the horse,a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

4Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,lest you also be like him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly,lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6One who sends a message by the hand of a foolis cutting off feet and drinking violence.

7Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8As one who binds a stone in a sling,so is he who gives honour to a fool.

9Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10As an archer who wounds all,so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

11As a dog that returns to his vomit,so is a fool who repeats his folly.

12Do you see a man 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!A fierce lion roams the streets!”

14As the door turns on its hinges,so does the sluggard on his bed.

15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish.He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyesthan seven men who answer with discretion.

17Like one who grabs a dog’s earsis one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,

19is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”

20For lack of wood a fire goes out.Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

21As coals are to hot embers,and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,they go down into the innermost parts.

23Like silver dross on an earthen vesselare the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

24A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,but he harbours evil in his heart.

25When his speech is charming, don’t believe him,for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26His malice may be concealed by deception,but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

28A lying tongue hates those it hurts;and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Similitudes and Instructions

1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,honor does not befit a fool.

2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow,an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,and a rod for the backs of fools!

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly,or you yourself will be like him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly,lest he become wise in his own eyes.

6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violenceis the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

7Like lame legs hanging limpis a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8Like binding a stone into a slingis the giving of honor to a fool.

9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkardis a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10Like an archer who wounds at randomis he who hires a fool or passerby.

11As a dog returns to its vomit,so a fool 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 slacker says, “A lion is in the road!A fierce lion roams the public square!”

14As a door turns on its hinges,so the slacker turns on his bed.

15The slacker buries his hand in the dish;it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16The slacker is wiser in his own eyesthan seven men who answer discreetly.

17Like one who grabs a dog by the earsis a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18Like a madman shooting firebrandsand deadly arrows,

19so is the man who deceives his neighborand says, “I was only joking!”

20Without wood, a fire goes out;without gossip, a conflict ceases.

21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire,so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22The words of a gossip are like choice morselsthat go down into the inmost being.

23Like glaze covering an earthen vesselare burninglips and a wicked heart.

24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.

25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,for seven abominations fill his heart.

26Though his hatred is concealed by deception,his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27He who digs a pit will fall into it,and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28A lying tongue hates those it crushes,and a flattering mouth causes ruin.