26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
So honor is not seemly for a fool.
² As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
So the curse that is causeless ^[a]alighteth not.
³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in ^[b]his own conceit.
⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
⁷ The legs of the lame hang loose;
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
⁸ As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,
So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
⁹ As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
^10 [c]As an archer that woundeth all,
So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
¹¹ As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
So is a fool that repeateth his folly.
¹² Seest thou a man wise in ^[d]his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
¹³ The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way;
A lion is in the streets.
¹⁴ As the door turneth upon its hinges,
So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
¹⁵ The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;
It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in ^[e]his own conceit
Than seven men that can ^[f]render a reason.
^17 [g]He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,
Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
¹⁸ As a madman who casteth firebrands,
Arrows, and death,
¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,
And saith, Am not I in sport?
²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goeth out;
And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
²¹ As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
²² The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
²³ Fervent lips and a wicked heart
Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips;
But he layeth up deceit within him:
²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not;
For there are seven abominations in his heart:
²⁶ Though his hatred cover itself with guile,
His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
²⁷ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;
And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath ^[h]wounded;
And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.