26 Like snow in summer and like ^(A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not ^(B)fitting for a fool.
² Like a ^(C)sparrow in its ^[a]flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a ^(D)curse without cause does not come to rest.
³ A ^(E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a ^(F)rod for the back of fools.
^4 (G)Do not answer a fool ^[b]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
^5 (H)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be ^(I)wise in his own eyes.
⁶ One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
⁷ Like ^[c]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
⁸ Like ^[d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Like a thorn that ^[e]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
^10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
¹¹ Like ^(J)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who ^(K)repeats ^[g]his foolishness.
¹² Do you see a person ^(L)wise in his own eyes?
^(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
^13 [h]A ^(N)lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road!
A lion is ^[i]in the public square!”
¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges,
So does a ^(O)lazy one on his bed.
¹⁵ A ^(P)lazy one buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
¹⁶ A lazy one is ^(Q)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven people who can ^[j]give a discreet answer.
¹⁷ Like one who takes a dog by the ears,
So is one who passes by and ^[k]meddles with ^(R)strife not belonging to him.
¹⁸ Like a maniac who shoots
^(S)Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
¹⁹ So is a person who ^(T)deceives his neighbor,
And says, “^(U)Was I not joking?”
²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no ^(V)gossiper, ^(W)quarreling quiets down.
²¹ Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a ^(X)contentious person to kindle strife.
²² The ^(Y)words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the ^[l]innermost parts of the body.
²³ Like an earthenware ^(Z)vessel overlaid with silver ^[m](AA)impurities
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
²⁴ One who ^(AB)hates disguises it with his lips,
But he harbors ^(AC)deceit in his ^[n]heart.
²⁵ When ^[o]he ^(AD)speaks graciously, do not believe him,
Because there are seven abominations in his heart.
²⁶ Though his hatred ^(AE)covers itself with deception,
His wickedness will be ^(AF)revealed in the assembly.
²⁷ One who ^(AG)digs a pit will fall into it,
And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
²⁸ A lying tongue hates ^[p]those it crushes,
And a ^(AH)flattering mouth works ruin.