¹As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not becoming for a fool. ²As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse without cause shall not come. ³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. ⁴Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest you also be like him. ⁵Answer a fool according to his foolishness, so that he may not be wise in his own eyes. ⁶He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet and drinks down damage. ⁷The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ⁸As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool. ⁹As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰Great is the Former of all, but he who hires a fool is like one who hires one passing by. ¹¹As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. ¹²Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. ¹³The lazy one says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. ¹⁴As the door turns upon its hinges, so does the lazy man turn upon his bed. ¹⁵The lazy man hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth. ¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a reason. ¹⁷He who passes by enraging himself over strife not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears, ¹⁸or like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death. ¹⁹so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, Am I not joking. ²⁰Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, the fighting ceases. ²¹As coals to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man to kindle fighting. ²²The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. ²³Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a broken piece of pottery with silver waste. ²⁴He who hates pretends with his lips and stores up deceit within him. ²⁵When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him; for seven hateful things are in his heart. ²⁶He whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the congregation. ²⁷Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it; and he who rolls a stone, it will return on him. ²⁸A lying tongue hates those afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.