1Honors do not suit the fool any more than snow in summer and rain at harvest.
2The sparrow escapes, the swallow flies off, so the motiveless curse will have no effect.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, a stick for the backs of fools.
4Do not answer the stupidity of fools lest you become like them.
5Answer the stupidity of the fool lest he consider himself intelligent.
6He who sends messages by a fool is cutting his own feet.
7Like the unsteady legs of a lame man, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Honoring a fool is like tying a stone in a sling.
9Like a thorn branch in a drunkard’s hands, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10Like an archer wounding all passersby, so is he who employs a fool.
11The fool reverts to his stupidity just as a dog returns to his vomit.
12See that man who thinks himself wise? There is more hope for a fool!
13“There’s a lion in the street,” the lazy man says, “a lion in the square.”
14The door turns on its hinges and the lazy man, on his bed.
15The idler dips his hand in the dish but is too tired to lift it to his mouth. 16The idler considers himself wiser than many people who answer tactfully.
17Interfering in the disputes of others is like grabbing a passing dog by the tail.
18As a madman hurls flaming, deadly arrows, 19so does the one who lies to his friend and then says, “It was just a joke.”
20For lack of wood, the fire goes out; for want of a gossiper, the quarrel dies down.
21Charcoal on hot coals, wood on a fire, and a quarrelsome man for stirring up disputes.
22The words of the gossiper are delicious mouthfuls which go right down to the bottom of the stomach. 23Like silver on earthenware, so are smooth lips with a corrupt heart.
24The one who hates, disguises his words and keeps his treachery inside; 25do not trust his sweet language for seven evils fill his heart. 26But although he conceals his hatred like a hypocrite, his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
27He who digs a pit falls in it and the rock he rolls away falls back on him.
28The liar hates his victims, the flattering mouth brings destruction.
