1 LIKE snow in summer and like rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.

2 Like sparrows wandering and like birds flying in the air, so the curse that is causeless shall be driven away.

3 A whip for the horse, a goad for the ass, and a rod for the back of a fool.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be also like him.

5 But answer a fool according to your wisdom, lest he think in himself that he is wise.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool drinks iniquity from under his own feet.

7 As a lame man who cannot walk, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool.

8 Like a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Thorns spring up in the hand of a drunkard, and folly in the mouth of a foot.

10 The body of a fool is greatly afflicted, and a drunkard thinks that he can cross a sea.

11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool that misbehaves in his folly.

12 If you should see a man wise in his own eyes, a fool is much better than he.

13 The sluggard says, when he is sent out, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 As a door turns upon its hinges, so does the slothful turn on his bed.

15 The slothful hides his hands in his bosom; it grieves him to bring them again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men with good reasoning.

17 He who meddles with a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 Like haughty men who utter words sharp and deadly as arrows,

19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor; when he is caught, he says, I was merely jesting.

20 When there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no troublesome person, the strife ceases.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a malicious person to kindle strife.

22 The words of the malicious stir up trouble; they go down into the innermost parts of the heart.

23 Like silver dross which sticks to an earthen pot, so are enraged lips and an evil heart.

24 He who hates is known by his own speech; in his heart he entertains deceit;

25 Though he speaks in a gentle tone, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 He who conceals hatred in his heart, his wickedness shall be revealed in the congregation.

27 He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and a troublesome mouth stirs up a quarrel.