¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. ² As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless will not come. ³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. ⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, in case you also be like to him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, in case he be wise in his own conceit. ⁶ He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage. ⁷ The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ⁸ As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool. ⁹ As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰ The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors. ¹¹ As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. ¹² Seest you a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. ¹³ The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. ¹⁴ As the door turns on his hinges, so Does the slothful on his bed. ¹⁵ The slothful hides his hand in his bosom it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. ¹⁷ He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears. ¹⁸ As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death, ¹⁹ So is the man that deceives his neighbour, and says, Am not I in sport? ²⁰ Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases. ²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. ²² The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. ²³ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. ²⁴ He who hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him; ²⁵ When he speaks fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be showed before the whole congregation. ²⁷ Whoso digs a pit will fall in it: and he that rolls a stone, it will return on him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it and a flattering mouth works ruin.