Proverbs

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.

1As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.

2As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.

3A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.

6He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.

7As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.

8As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.

11As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.

12Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.

13The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.

14As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.

17As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.

18As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:

19So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.

20When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.

21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.

22The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.

23Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.

24An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.

25When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.

26He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.

27He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.

28A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.